LIBRARY 
BV    2063    .T47    1838 


Thoughts  on  the  importance 
of  raising  up  a  new  order 


^^/^V/^/^^ 


I  I   , 


^ 


THOUGHTS 


NEW   ORDER  OF   MISSIONARIES 


f&  foisfotUK. 


TO  THE  EXCELLENT  AND 

HONORABLE  HEMAN  LINCOLN. 

of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  —  my  friend  in  boyhood  and  man- 
hood —  these  pages  are  gratefully  and  affectionately  inscri- 
bed bv 

THE  AUTHOR. 


FJtEFACE. 


It  is  not  improper  for  an  author  to  suggest  —  with 
modesty  and  deference  —  any  claims  he  may  think  he 
possesses  upon  the  attention  of  the  reader.  In  the  pre- 
sent case  this  may  be  done  in  few  words. 

Being  himself  a  layman,  the  writer  has  mingled  with 
the  laity  of  the  church,  on  terms  of  familiarity,  which  the 
dignity  justly  accorded  to  the  clerical  profession  more  or 
less  prevents  its  members  from  enjoying,  —  at  least  in 
its  fulness  and  freeness.  Those  who  occupy  the  minis- 
terial office  or  other  of  the  higher  seats  of  influence,  do 
not  view  society  from  that  point  of  advantage,  which 
those  do  who  sustain  subordinate  relations.  An  instinc- 
tive reserve  is  felt  by  the  many,  when  brought  into  com- 
munication with  professional  men.  This  arises  princi- 
pally from  respect  for  those  persons.  Whatever  be  its 
cause,  it  extensively  prevails,  much  more  so  than  is  gene- 
rally supposed.  These  remarks  are  designed  the  better 
to  secure  a  candid  examination  of  the  argument  involved 
in  the  first  chapter  of  this  work.  At  the  first  blush,  no 
great  weight  will  be  attached  to  it  ;  and  it  is  only  from  a 
deep  conviction  of  its  importance,  gathered  from  a  free 


Vlll  PREFACE. 

interchange  of  thought  with  youthful  laymen,  that  it  is 
adventured. 

Another  reason  may  be  suggested  for  asking  the  atten- 
tion of  the  reader.  It  is  this  :  —  During  a  number  of 
foreign  voyages  the  author  had  occasion  to  become  some- 
what acquainted  with  the  true  character  of  heathenism, 
as  it  exists  in  China,  in  the  East  Indies,  and  in  some  of 
the  Pacific  Islands.  Some  missionary  stations  were  also 
visited,  and  an  opportunity  was  presented  for  noticing 
the  labors  and  hindrances  of  the  foreign  missionary. 
This  intercourse  left  one  strong  impression  on  the  author's 
mind,  —  which  subsequent  reading  has  strengthened  — 
that  the  diagnosis  of  heathenism  indicates  the  necessity  of 
a  more  active  and  directly  specific  agency  than  is  com- 
monly supposed  to  be  requisite.  What  the  precise  form 
of  that  agency  should  be,  appeared  less  plainly. 

In  this  state  of  feeling  the  New  Testament  was  natu- 
rally examined  ;  and  the  former  and  latter  missionary 
operations  compared,  both  as  regards  their  plans  and  suc- 
cesses. The  result  of  this  was  a  full  conviction  of  the 
importance  of  the  plan  herein  presented.  Had  the  au- 
thor no  personal  acquaintance  with  heathenism,  he  might 
less  confidently  ask  the  attention  of  the  reader. 

A  third  reason  is,  that  many  persons  of  much  experi- 
ence and  soundness  of  judgment,  have  expressed  a  wish 
that  the  author's  views  on  this  subject  should  be  made 


PREFACE.  IX 

public.  Indeed,  one  of  the  controlling  reasons  that  lead 
to  this  publication,  is  an  official  application  from  a  mis- 
sionary band  in  a  literary  institution,  who  had  casually 
become  acquainted  with  the  general  plan. 

Another  is,  that  in  the  body  of  the  work  will  be  found 
many  facts  and  opinions,  pertinent  to  the  general  subject, 
which  are  well  worthy  of  being  preserved  in  a  more  con- 
nected form  than  in  the  ephemeral  periodicals  of  the  day, 
whence  many  have  been  taken.  These,  as  will  be  seen, 
are  from  some  of  the  wisest  and  best  of  the  foreign  mis- 
sion band. 

It  is  particularly  desired  by  the  author,  that  the  reader 
should  bear  in  mind  through  the  entire  perusal  of  the 
work,  that  he  wishes  in  no  wise  to  trench  upon  the  prov- 
ince of  existing  missionary  organizations.  The  order  of 
men  herein  proposed,  he  would  wish  to  see  going  abroad 
to  aid,  not  to  oppose, — to  be  the  precursors,  not  the  rivals, 
of  other  missionaries. 

December,  1837. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I. 


ige. 


Necessity  for  new  modifications  of  missionary  labor  in  order  to  en- 
list persons  in  the  missionary  ranks  who  otherwise  would  not 
join  them  -  -  -  -  -  -  -     13 

CHAPTER  II. 

Necessity  for  new  modifications,  growing  out  of  the  great  obsta- 
cles in  the  way  of  the  world's  evangelization    -  -  -25 

CHAPTER  111. 

Statement  of  our  plan.  Arguments  in  favor  of  it  drawn  from 
the  commission  which  Jesus  Christ  gave  to  the  first  mission- 
aries       -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -     34 

CHAPTER  IV. 

The  missionary  commission,  as  given  by  the  Saviour  to  the 
Twelve,  and  to  the  Seventy-two  -  -  -  -    50 

CHAPTER  V. 

Some  objections  noticed.  Thoughts  on  the  genius  of  our  plan. 
A  peculiar  difficulty  which  embarrasses  the  foreign  missionary, 
and  the  adaptation  of  our  plan  to  meet  it  -  -     54 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Our  plan  compared  with  that  generally  pursued  by  missionaries. 
Objections  to  scientific  lectures  as  a  means  of  evangelizing  the 
heathen  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -    70 

CHAPTER  VII. 

The  kind  of  argument  universally  demanded  by  mankind,  before 
assent  will  be  yielded  to  any  innovation  upon  long  cherished 


Xll  CONTENTS. 

opinions  and  customs.  Reasons  for  the  hope  that  the  heathen 
nations  are  on  the  eve  of  a  great  change.  Effect  of  healing 
upon  the  public  mind  in  the  Saviour's  time       -  -  -     86 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Facts  and  opinions  favoring  our  plan,  from  China  -  -     94 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Facts  and  opinions  continued, — from  Ceylon, — Siam, — Orissa, — 
Sumatra, — Java, — Society  Islands, — Burmah, — The  Deccan      122 

CHAPTER  X. 

Facts  and  opinions  continued,— from  Borneo, — Algiers, — Journal 
of  the  Landers  in  the  interior  of  Africa, — Persia, — Constanti- 
nople,— Syria      -------  137 

CHAPTER  XI. 

An  illustration  of  the  probable  working  of  our  plan.  Course  of 
study  recommended.     Some  objections  to  it  considered  -  147 

CHAPTER  XII. 

The  plan  of  Itineracy  considered.  The  question  of  marriage 
noticed    -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -161 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Difficulty  in  procuring,  for  a  new  plan,  a  candid  examination. 
Various  incidental  advantages  of  our  design  suggested  -  168 


; 


A     XX  -k  A'.    U  J  I 


..  -v  £1  U   ij  \J    Li  A  U  A    ' 


TftWJGTITS 


i*  " 


ON    A 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Necessity  for  new  modifications  of  missionary  labor,  in  order  to  en- 
list persons  in  the  missionary  ranks  who  otherwise  would  not  join 
them. 

Upon  the  threshold  of  our  subject  it  were  becoming  to 
pause  for  a  moment,  and  bear  our  testimony  —  humble 
though  it  be  —  to  the  wisdom  and  fidelity  which  mark 
the  plans  and  labors  of  the  various  foreign  Missionary 
Societies.  To  do  so,  is  indeed  a  privilege  ;  for  with 
them  our  earliest  and  fondest  religious  associations  are 
interwoven.  Not  only  did  our  first  love  instinctively 
sympathize  in  their  designs  ;  but  they  fixed  our  admira- 
tion while  as  yet  we  saw  no  special  value  in  the  religion 
they  seek  to  publish  abroad.  Vivid  is  the  recollection  of 
our  feelings  when  on  that  dreary  autumnal  day  the  first 
mission  vessel  to  the  Sandwich  Islands  swept  from  the 
harbor  of  Boston.  A  personal  acquaintance  with  some 
of  the  missionaries  who  then  embarked  ;  and  intercourse 
with  them  up  to  the  moment  of  embarkation,  it  need 
scarcely  be  said,  gave  us  a  high  opinion  of  the  disinter- 
estedness and  excellence  of  that  little  band  of  pioneers. 
2 


14  THOUGHTS    ON    A 

In  subsequent  years  we  again  met  them,  in  their  distant 
field  of  labor,  and  although  still  without  perceiving  any 
particular  interest  in  the  religion  they  proclaimed  to  the 
heathen,  our  admiration  was  much  increased.  It  is  true, 
that  calumny  and  detraction  essayed,  in  their  most  spe- 
cious forms,  to  lessen  in  our  bosom  this  sentiment  ;  but 
the  lives  and  labors  of  the  missionaries  presented  evi- 
dence, too  obvious  and  radiant,  to  allow  for  a  moment  a 
counter  feeling. 

It  is  almost  unnecessary  to  add,  that  a  more  intimate 
acquaintance  with  missionary  operations  at  other  foreign 
stations,  aided  by  some  experimental  knowledge  of  the 
religion  they  offer  to  the  benighted  pagan,  has  not  les- 
sened our  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  present  mis- 
sionary organizations. 

We  come  to  the  work  before  us,  then,  with  a  heart 
favorably  disposed. 

Our  mental  admiration  has  also  been  called  forth  by 
the  vastness  of  the  designs  of  the  various  Boards. 

At  one  time  we  see  them  forming  plans  for  redeeming 
from  spiritual  bondage  the  three  hundred  millions  of 
China.  We  hear  of  their  deliberations  in  behalf  of  Bur- 
mah,  Ceylon,  Persia,  and  Africa.  We  trace  their  agency 
in  Northern  India,  and  on  the  lofty  Ghauts. 

In  another  hemisphere,  we  find  their  well  appointed 
means  in  successful  operation,  blessing  the  inhabitants  of 
the  Pacific  isles.  And  even  the  Rocky  mountains  inter- 
pose not  an  impassable  barrier  to  their  designs,  for  the 
evangelization  of  all  the  tribes,  that  wander  in  ignorance 
and  sorrow,  through  the  vast  domains  of  North  America. 

They  distinctly  purpose  to  translate  the  Book  of  Life 


NEW    ORDER    OF    MISSIONARIES.  15 

into  every  language,  and,  in  conjunction  with  other  socie- 
ties, to  place  a  copy  of  it  within  the  reach  of  every  family 
on  the  globe.  Tracts,  they  would  scatter  on  the  wings  of 
every  wind,  and,  in  every  heathen  community,  establish 
libraries  of  appropriate  religious  books.  They  would  en- 
deavor, by  all  legitimate  means,  to  wake  up,  in  the  bosom 
of  the  rising  heathen  race,  a  desire  for  knowledge.  Inci- 
dentally, they  would  correct  false  views  of  science  in 
ruder  nations,  would  restore  home  to  its  sacred  and  be- 
nign character  ;  and,  far  above  all  else,  would  point,  to 
the  poor  idolater,  the  great  atoning  sacrifice. 

Surely — such  designs  are  of  the  sublimest  kind  ! 

The  fidelity  and  propriety  with  which  these  purposes 
have  been  prosecuted,  claim  scarcely  less  of  admiration. 
However  otherwise  it  may  have  been  in  former  times,  it 
is  now  the  sure  evidence  of  a  debased  heart  or  an  impov- 
erished mind  to  sneer  at  the  missionary.  There  are 
men,  it  is  true,  who  affect  to  consider  him  unworthy  of 
high  respect  ;  but  it  may  be  safely  affirmed  that  their 
consciences  bear  testimony,  as  well  to  the  exalted  work 
in  which  he  is  engaged,  as  to  the  unsullied  character  of 
the  agent.  Upon  what  page  of  history,  may  be  fearlessly 
asked,  can  there  be  found  the  record  of  so  great  a  num- 
ber of  men,  sent  abroad  into  a  world  of  temptation  and 
trial,  who  have  conducted  themselves  with  so  little  cause 
for  reproach  as  have  the  missionaries  of  the  cross  ?  Or, 
who  have  been  more  conspicuous  for  perseverance,  intre- 
pidity, wisdom,  and  sublimity  of  pursuit  ? 

Considerations  of  this  nature  need  not,  however,  to  be 
multiplied.  The  title  of  missionary,  even  among  the 
most  wicked,  is  no  longer  a  synonyme   for  weakness, 


16  THOUGHTS    ON    A 

fanaticism,  and  ignorance.  The  features  of  his  char- 
acter, already  alluded  to,  stand  out  in  too  strong  relief  to 
allow  such  a  sentiment  to  pass  current,  even  among  the 
deadliest  enemies  of  religion. 

These  remarks  have  been  made  in  order  to  show  that, 
in  presenting  the  thoughts  contained  in  this  volume,  no 
wish  to  disparage  the  operations  of  existing  mission  boards 
exists. 

But  it  will  probably  be  found,  that,  as  the  work  of 
evangelizing  the  nations  moves  on,  various  modifications 
of  labor  will  be  needed  ;  other  than  those  within  the 
legitimate  sphere  of  present  organizations.  A  number  of 
reasons,  more  or  less  obvious,  that  lead  to  this  opinion, 
are  purposely  omitted  in  this  connexion.  There  are  one 
or  two,  however,  that  may  well  claim  a  hasty  notice. 

The  first  that  we  shall  consider  partakes  somewhat  of 
a  philosophical  nature  ;  and  it  will  appear  of  but  little 
intrinsic  worth,  unless  examined  in  the  light  of  mental 
philosophy.  The  point  is  this  : — that  new  modifications 
of  missionary  labor  will  call  into  the  missionary  ranks 
many  gifted  individuals,  whose  services  are  desirable  ; 
and  who  would  not  be  found  in  those  ranks  but  for  the 
modifications  supposed. 

The  human  mind  is  variously  constituted,  rendering 
one  man  susceptible  of  influence  by  one  class  of  conside- 
rations, and  another  by  a  different.  This  is  true  of  per- 
sons of  equal  piety  and  intelligence.  It  is,  substantially, 
the  philosophy  of  that  principle  which  led  Loyola  to  pro- 
pose the  order  of  the  Jesuits.  He  saw  that  there  were 
stirring  spirits  in  the  bosom  of  the  Catholic  church,  which 
could  be  led  to  higher  action  in  the  work  of  spreading 


NEW    ORDER    OF    MISSIONARIES.  17 

that  religon,  if  some  "  Brotherhood"  were  formed,  whose 
laws  should  involve  more  spirit-stirring  efforts,  than  those 
required  by  the  various  Papal  orders  then  existing. 
There  were  minds  that  needed  a  different  description  of 
extraneous  influence  than  the  latter  afforded.  No  soonep, 
therefore,  was  the  Order  to  which  allusion  has  been 
made,  founded  ;  than  those  minds  perceived  its  adapta- 
tion to  their  ideas  of  enterprise.  It  was  a  master's  touch 
of  a  master  spring ;  and  has  been  of  far  greater  efficiency 
in  promoting  the  Papal  designs,  than  all  its  other  enginery 
combined. 

The  pages  of  the  past  teem  with  illustrations  of  the 
power  of  the  principle  involved  in  this  immediate  con- 
nexion. How  countless  are  the  instances  in  which  minds 
that  previously  appeared  but  of  ordinary  power,  have 
suddenly  been  found  to  possess  great  energies  and  capa- 
bilities, when  stirring  and  important  emergencies  occur- 
red. In  times  of  revolution  and  peril,  master-minds  seem 
all  at  once  to  start  into  being.  The  developing  spring 
within  is  touched  by  the  adaptation  of  circumstances 
without.  Had  these  not  been  brought  into  contact,  no 
particular  superiority  might  ever  have  been  noticed. 

Another  reason  for  the  opinion  advanced  is  this,  that 
the  higher  the  character  of  the  mind,  the  greater  must  be 
the  motive  to  call  forth  the  action  of  its  higher  powers. 

It  scarcely  need  be  said  that  the  word  character,  as 
here  applied  to  mind,  has  reference  to  those  peculiar 
mental  powers  which  distinguish  one  man  from  another, 
and  has  no  allusion  to  moral  attributes.  This  should  be 
borne  in  memory  while  examining  the  reason  before  us  ; 
because  the  difficulty  of  filling  up  the  missionary  ranks 
2* 


18  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

lies,  not  so  much  in  the  smallness  of  the  number  of  Chris- 
tians in  the  churches,  as  in  a  disinclination  to  the  mission 
service  ; — a  disinclination  which  has  its  seat  in  the  head 
rather  than  in  the  heart.  There  are  scores  of  friends  to 
the  cause  of  the  heathen,  who  pray,  and  give,  and  labor 
at  home  for  them  ;  but  there  is  momentous  difficulty  in 
bringing  a  sufficient  number  of  those  persons  to  the  de- 
cision that  they  will  be  missionaries. 

But  to  return.  The  spirit  that  saw  no  constraining 
motives  in  the  monastic  orders  of  the  Papal  religion,  was 
all  enthusiasm  when  it  found  a  Brotherhood  which  re- 
quired its  members  to  go  at  a  moment's  warning,  without 
asking  a  question,  if  need  be,  to  the  remotest  portion  of 
the  world.  In  this  was  found  aliment  for  self-denial,  in- 
trepidity, and  the  highest  efforts  of  man.  The  principles 
and  general  policy  of  Catholicism,  as  the  term  is  com- 
monly understood,  we  of  course  repudiate  ;  but  it  must 
be  admitted  that  in  this,  as  in  many  other  instances,  Pa- 
pacy has  studied  to  great  effect  the  laws  of  the  human 
mind. 

Now,  it  is  contended,  that  there  are,  in  the  bosom  of 
the  Christian  church,  particularly  among  her  youthful 
members,  those  who  will  find,  in  the  plan  proposed  in 
these  pages,  that  which  is  adapted  to  their  peculiarities  of 
mental  temperament ;  and  to  their  views  of  consecration 
and  enterprise  ;  and  which  will  have  a  strong  claim  upon 
their  personal  services;  a  claim,  too,  that  will  find  a 
ready  and  zealous  response.  If  these  remarks  be  true, 
then  is  the  first  proposition  laid  down,  true,  and  worthy 
the  most  careful  consideration  ; — namely,  that  as  the  work 
of  evangelizing  the  nations  proceeds,  various  modifications 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  19 

of  labor  will  be  needed,  other  than  those  within  the  legiti- 
mate sphere  of  existing  organizations. 

It  may  here  be  urged,  that  if  a  resort  to  any  arguments, 
other  than  the  simple  command  uttered  on  Olivet's  side, 
be  necessary,  in  order  to  induce  men  to  become  mission- 
aries, such  persons  had  better  remain  in  the  walks  of  sec- 
ular life.  To  this  it  is  replied,  that  the  command  of  our 
ascended  Lord  should  ever  be  the  grand  argument  in 
every  appeal.  This  must  be  kept  prominent  and  distinct ; 
for  only  as  it  shall  have  control  in  the  bosom  of  the  mis- 
sionary will  he  be  able  to  sustain  the  manifold  and  often 
appalling  realities  of  his  laborious  life. 

Romance  may  picture  to  the  fervent  fancy  the  waving 
palm-tree  of  Orient  climes,  and  there  may  be  some  who 
imagine  that,  beneath  its  shade,  it  were  an  easy  matter  to 
gather  and  instruct  a  group  of  listening  idolaters  ;  and,  that 
there  the  Christian  warfare  would  be  less  severe  than  in 
lands  of  cold  reality.  But  ah  !  romance  shall  lay  her  pen- 
cil by ;  and  youth  shall  depart ;  and  manhood's  strength 
shall  give  place  to  premature  age  ;  and  then  the  mission- 
ary must  be  borne  onward  in  his  work,  only  by  the  con- 
sideration that  his  blessed  Lord  bade  him  toil.  We  re- 
peat, therefore,  that  the  simple  command  of  Jesus  Christ 
should  be  the  paramount  argument  in  our  addresses  to 
those  we  wish  to  become  missionaries. 

But,  admitting  this,  it  is  not  sinful  or  unwise  to  turn  to 
account  any  natural  law  of  mind.  Whatever  may  be 
affirmable  of  the  affections  and  tendencies  of  the  heart, 
no  one  will  deny  that  the  laws  which  pertain  to,  and  con- 
stitute man's  mental  organization,  are  wise  and  "good  ;" 
and  are  intended  to  be  used  in  his  various  relations,  wheth- 


20  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

er  these  pertain  to  religious  or  to  secular  matters.  Curi- 
osity— the  desire  for  adventure — the  wish  to  secure  a 
good  name  as  an  inheritance  for  our  posterity,  and  other 
of  the  minor  instinctive  laws  of  our  nature,  may  well  be 
appealed  to  in  the  case  under  consideration.  It  becomes 
sinful  to  encourage  them,  only  when  their  exercise  would 
be  injurious  to  their  possessor  or  to  others. 

Neither  is  it  unwise  to  throw  around  the  subject  of 
missions  all  the  sublime  considerations  with  which  it  stands 
in  connexion,  whether  these  pertain  to  this  life  or  to  that 
which  is  to  come ;  and  by  plans  and  arguments  adapted 
to  individual  peculiarities  of  thought  and  taste,  to  induce 
all  within  our  influence  to  respond  to  the  Macedonian  cry 
by  personal  consecration  to  the  service. 

In  the  catalogue  of  names  of  a  little  missionary  band 
in  one  of  our  literary  institutions,  is  that  of  an  individual 
— beloved  for  his  great  moral  worth  by  all  who  know 
hjm — to  whom  the  principle  we  have  just  been  consider- 
ing has  been  applied  ;  and  to  its  operation  may  be  attrib- 
uted his  leaving  the  walks  of  secular  life,  to  prepare  for 
missionary  labor  on  a  foreign  strand.  This  change  of 
purpose  was  not  the  result  of  an  impulsive,  inconsiderate 
determination,  brought  about  by  the  speciousness  of  a 
recent  theory.  His  very  remarkable  staidness,  to  use  a 
word  of  more  intenseness,  the  better  to  express  the  char- 
acter of  his  mind,  not  only  substantiates  the  above  position, 
but  proves  that  it  is  not  the  enthusiastic  and  buoyant  only 
that  require,  or  can  appreciate,  the  special  motives  to 
which  allusion  has  been  made.  The  identical  plan  pre- 
sented in  this  volume  was  urged  upon  his  attention.  Its 
unique  character,  its  simplicity,  its  adaptation  to  the  wants 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  21 

and  woes  of  heathenism,  its  striking  resemblance  to  the 
mode  of  missionary  labor  marked  out  in  detail  by  the 
Saviour,  constrained  him  to  leave  a  life  of  comfortable 
toil  to  which  he  had  become  attached,  and  almost  penni- 
less to  commence  a  course  of  preparation  for  the  mission- 
ary service.  Once  has  spring  thrown  over  the  bosom  of 
earth  her  robe  of  green,  and  autumn  has  come  and  clad 
the  forests  in  their  seared  livery,  since  this  noble  youth 
made  the  high  resolve,  and  he  still  toils  on.  In  days  to 
come,  should  God  guard  his  life,  he  will  doubtless  be 
seen  in  India,  a  faithful  laborer  in  his  master's  vineyard ; 
and  to  the  application  of  the  principle  under  discussion, 
will  many  poor  heathen  be  indebted  for  physical  relief, 
and  for  eternal  life. 

There  is  now,  in  a  foreign  mission  field,  a  female  whose 
present  course  of  life  was  finally  decided  upon  by  the 
principle  under  discussion.  He  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to 
write  the  history  of  her  life,  when  she  shall  have  passed 
away  to  yonder  better  world,  will  not  fail  to  record,  that 
the  adaptation  of  motive  to  the  peculiar  structure  of  her 
mind,  and  to  her  modes  of  thinking,  called  forth  energies 
which  few  supposed  she  possessed.  There  are,  doubt- 
less, many  others  in  the  missionary  corps,  to  whom  this 
remark  will  apply,  but  this  individual  is  singled  out  for  the 
purpose  of  more  exact  notice,  as  allustrating  the  point  in 
hand.  The  person  referred  to  was  a  faithful  Christian  at 
home,  adorning  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel  in  all  things. 
But,  like  Deborah,  she  was  endowed  with  qualifications 
for  more  enlarged  efforts  than  were  required  within  the 
limited  circle  of  her  native  village.  The  hidden  fire  of 
christian  enterprise  burned  within  her  bosom,   and  she 


'22  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

panted  for  a  wider  field.  Although  she  performed,  as 
has  been  hinted,  every  relative  duty  in  the  circle  where 
her  more  youthful  days  were  passed,  and  was  in  every 
good  work  the  first  and  the  best,  yet  there  was  nothing 
apparent  to  the  general  observer,  that  marked  her  with 
superiority.  It  is  true  there  were  a  chosen  few  who 
knew  her  character,  and  who  were  well  certain  that  in 
fulness  of  time  its  developments  would  extensively  bless 
her  species,  and  put  high  honor  upon  her  sex.  At 
length,  the  spring  of  her  peculiar  mental  constitution  was 
touched.  The  providence  of  God,  to  which  she  had 
long  looked  in  secret,  presented,  by  a  chain  of  unexpect- 
ed circumstances,  an  enterprise  that  demanded  the  prompt 
exercise  of  all  that  was  high  and  courageous  in  her  na- 
ture. In  the  field  of  foreign  service  to  which  she  had  been 
invited,  peculiar  difficulties  and  dangers  were  to  be  look- 
ed for,  and  almost  unsurpassed  responsibilities  were  to  be 
assumed.  These  very  features  of  the  case,  probably  had 
more  weight  in  leading  her  to  the  determination  of  going 
upon  that  service  than  any  and  all  other  considerations, 
save  the  command  of  her  Sovereign  Lord. 

It  was  not  pride  or  self-confidence  that  led  to  this  ex- 
perience, for  the  grace  of  humility  seemed  pre-eminently 
to  adorn  her,  and  to  throw  around  her  lovely  character, 
its  soft  and  mellow  tints.  The  secret  of  the  matter  was 
simply  this,  that  that  service  was  most  congenial  to  her 
cast  of  mind,  which  should  call  for  the  exercise  of  the 
higher  powers  with  which  nature  had  endowed  her.  Call 
this  romance,  or  whatever  else  we  please  ;  it  is  almost 
invariably  the  experience  of  the  most  gifted  spirits ; — of 
those  who  are  destined  by  God  for  great  and  enduring 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  23 

usefulness.  Let  those  be  appealed  to  whose  names  stand 
out  on  the  page  of  history  (its  gems  and  stars  of  glory) — 
as  philanthropists  of  the  higher  order.  They  will  tell  of 
this  hidden  desire  to  grapple  with  giant  evils,  and  to  guage 
the  most  profound  depths  of  human  wretchedness.  It  is 
true  "  they  were  faithful  over  a  few  things"  while  as  yet 
Providence  had  not  led  them  out  of  the  common  routine 
of  the  Christian's  life  ;  but  while  thus  faithful,  they  longed 
and  panted  with  almost  irrepressible  ardor  for  a  field 
whose  culture  should  demand  greater  things  at  their 
hands. 

Lest  a  misunderstanding  of  our  meaning  arise,  it  may 
be  permitted  to  repeat  what  has  before  been  asserted, 
namely,  that  the  duty  of  the  Christian  to  consecrate  all 
his  powers  and  resources  to  the  work  of  the  world's  sal- 
vation is  positive,  whether  he  be  or  be  not  pressed  by  his 
fellow  men  with  motives  to  do  thus.  Simple  principle 
must  govern  his  decision.  This  is  the  ground  of  his  per- 
sonal responsibility,  and  which  never  can  be  shifted  or 
evaded. 

But  while  we  scrupulously  avoid  every  consideration 
that  would  invest  the  enterprise  of  missions  with  the  dra- 
pery of  romance  or  fiction,  let  us  clothe  it  with  all  its 
moral  grandeur.  Let  no  one  of  its  hallowed  and  beauti- 
ful contingencies  be  kept  out  of  sight.  Let  it  be  seen 
that  the  ardent,  the  adventurous,  and  the  bold,  can  find, 
in  the  prosecution  of  its  designs,  abundant  scope  for  all 
their  powers.  So  let  it  stand  out  before  the  world,  that 
all  shall  confess,  both  pious  and  profane,  that  it  is  a  work 
of  the  most  intense  interest. 

To  one  class  of  minds  let  one  variety  of  considerations 


24  THOUGHTS,  ETC. 

be  addressed ;  to  another,  let  different  appropriate  mo- 
tives be  presented  ;  until  thousands  who  love  the  Sa- 
viour, and  who  otherwise  would  spend  their  lives  in  more 
circumscribed  scenes  of  toil,  shall  be  led  seriously  to  ex- 
amine their  individual  duty  in  reference  to  missionary 
service. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Necessity  for  new  modifications,  growing  out  of  the  great  obstacles 
in  the  way  of  the  world's  evangelization. 

In  the  preceding  chapter  the  attention  was  directed  to 
some  arguments  which  may  show  the  desirableness  of 
new  modes  of  missionary  labor.  The  reasons  therein 
noticed,  have  reference,  mainly,  to  the  influence  we  de- 
sire to  exert  over  those  in  the  church  whom  we  wish  should 
become  missionaries. 

Let  us  now  notice  some  thoughts  in  support  of  the 
general  proposition,  of  a  nature  different  from  those 
already  considered. 

May  it  not  be  asserted,  that  the  almost  appalling  ob- 
stacles in  the  way  of  the  conversion  of  the  heathen  will 
render  necessary,  or  at  least  desirable,  different  plans  of 
evangelical  labor? 

The  point  involved  in  this  question  has  been  lamentably 
overlooked,  even  by  the  most  intelligent  Christians.  In- 
deed, it  may  be  fairly  questioned,  whether  the  most  ex- 
perienced members  of  our  mission  Boards  fully  under- 
stand the  difficulties  alluded  to.  A  very  exact  know- 
ledge of  many  general  and  particular  facts  may  be  pos- 
sessed by  them  ;  and  as  much  as  can  be  communicated 
by  correspondence  and  oral  communication,  they  may 
know;  but,  after  all,  let  them  dwell  among  the  heathen, 
and  become  acquainted  with  the  lights  and  shadows  of 
their  wretched  lives,  and  they  will  find  their  knowledge 
3 


26  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

of  heathen  character  and  condition  to  have  been  much 
more  limited  than  they  supposed. 

The  Rev.  Howard  Malcom,  who  is  now  in  India,  on  a 
tour  of  observation  for  the  Baptist  Board  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions, thus  writes  from  Maulmein,  to  the  Board  at  Bos- 
ton :  "  Every  day  developes  something  which,  as  a  Board 
we  could  not  know.  The  brethren  here  have  become 
much  impressed  with  the  utility  of  an  office  like  mine, 
that  some  of  them  have  proposed  that  I  remain  in  the 
East,  passing  always  from  station  to  station." 

The  wisdom  of  the  British  Foreign  Missionary  Socie- 
ty, in  electing  to  one  of  its  Secretaryships,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Ellis,  long  a  resident  at  the  Society  Islands,  cannot  be 
too  much  admired.  Indeed,  there  should  be  in  every 
missionary  board  some  one  individual  at  least,  who  had 
been  familiar  with  heathenism  by  personal  observation. 
The  importance  of  this  is  paramount,  and  must  be  attend- 
ed to,  if  full  success  is  hoped  as  the  result  of  foreign 
efforts.  There  may  be  a  great  difficulty — almost  an  im- 
possibility to  procure  such  persons — but  if  it  can  be  done 
only  by  sending  men  on  purpose  to  acquire  the  know^ 
ledge  and  experience  desired,  it  had  better  be  attempted. 
It  is  impossible,  utterly  impossible,  for  the  most  gifted 
writer  to  convey  a  correct  view  of  the  sad  realities  that 
stand  in  this  connexion.  The  inner  temple  of  heathen- 
ism must  be  personally  entered,  and  its  foulness  seen  in 
order  to  be  appreciated. 

But  were  it  possible  for  the  missionary  to  convey  to 
his  friends  at  home  a  faithful  portraiture  of  the  forms  of 
wickedness  and  degradation  that  surround  him,  he  would 
not  do  it.     His  character  for  veracity  might  be  jeoparded. 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  27 

He  would,  also^be-  deterred  by  the  loathsome  indelicacy 
of  the  facts  themselves,  and  might  justly  fear  that  the 
Church  would  retire  disheartened  from  the  work.  He 
instinctively  shrinks  from  the  disclosure  of  that  which  has 
often  well  nigh  discouraged  him,  and  which  he  had  but 
faintly  appreciated  before  his  residence  among  a  nation  of 
idolaters.  It  is,  no  doubt,  a  digressive  remark,  but  those 
who  experimentally  understand  the  length  and  breadth  and 
height  and  depth  of  the  subject  under  review,  hardly  know 
which  to  admire  most,  the  timely  appearance  of  the  re- 
cent work  of  Rev.  Hollis  Read  ;  *  the  fidelity  and  vivid- 
ness of  his  picture  of  pagan  life ;  or  the  nerve  which  led 
him  to  make  his  pages  public.  He  may  have  the  satis- 
faction of  knowing  that  many  hearts  respond  with  grati- 
tude to  this  particular  work  which  he  has  performed  ; 
and  that  it  has  led  some  (perhaps  many)  to  the  throne  of 
grace  for  help  in  this  time  of  the  missionaries'  need. 

To  return  from  this  digression.  It  is  to  be  feared  that 
the  Church  has  not  enough  confidence  in  the  promise  of 
the  risen  Saviour,  to  look,  unappalled,  at  the  difficulties 
of  the  case.  As  has  been  hinted,  this  consideration  leads 
the  foreign  missionary,  in  his  communications  with  home, 
rather  to  dwell  upon  those  features  of  his  work  that  would 
encourage,  than  upon  those  of  a  different  description. 
He  remembers  how  his  own  heart  sickened  within  him, 
when  he  acquired  a  more  intimate  knowledge  of  heathen 
character  ;  and  he  is  tempted  to  keep  back  part  of  his 
experience,  lest  he  should  be  abandoned  by  his  friends, 
or  recalled  to  home  fields  of  labor,  where  less  of  discour- 
agement would  meet  him. 

*  "The  Christian  Brahmun,  etc.  etc.  by  Rev.  Hollis  Read, 
American  Missionary  to  India." 


28  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

An  additional  motive  that  leads  to  the  predominance 
of  the  encouraging  in  his  communications,  is,  that  his  bo- 
som burns  with  increased  desire  that  the  church  should 
send  out  more  laborers  into  the  field,  where  his  own  efforts 
seem  to  him  to  be — and,  in  fact,  are,  so  entirely  inade- 
quate to  the  necessities  of  the  case.  It  becomes  perfect- 
ly natural  then,  that  he  should  try  to  induce  his  brethren 
at  home  to  join  him  in  his  labors,  by  presenting  all  that 
would  be  likely  to  encourage  them.  This  does  not  ne- 
cessarily imply  the  slightest  dereliction  of  honesty  or  fair- 
ness, but  it  is  a  sort  of  natural  refraction  of  the  rays  of 
light  which  strike  the  mental  vision,  consequent  upon  the 
bias  of  the  hopes  and  wishes  of  the  individual. 

It  may  be  further  said,  that  he  is  so  much  accustomed  to 
obstacles  and  disappointed  hope,  that  if  God  now  and  then 
cheer  him  by  the  conversion  of  a  soul,  or  by  unexpected- 
ly opening  a  sealed  door,  his  mind  is  apt  to  dwell  almost 
exclusively  upon  this  delightful  token  of  the  divine  favor  ; 
and  it  at  once  becomes  the  burden  of  his  communications. 
This  is  all  perfectly  natural ;  and  it  is  not  only  excusable, 
but  right.  }Tis  indeed  a  signal  miracle  of  grace  that  leads 
a  filthy,  benighted  idolater  to  become  a  joyful  follower  of 
the  Lamb  !  No  wonder  the  missionary  dwells  upon  such 
a  theme.  One  instance  only  of  conversion,  proves  that 
the  gospel  has  power  to  save  even  those,  among  whom 
his  labors  seemed  to  have  been  wasted.  To  see  it  tri- 
umph against  the  strong  antagonist  force  of  caste,  custom, 
priestcraft,  and  licentiousness,  in  addition  to  the  common 
features  of  moral  depravity,  adds  new  joy  to  his  bosom  ; 
and  like  the  way-worn  mariner  when  his  eye  catches  a 
glimpse  of  the  friendly  beacon  in  the  hour  of  despond- 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  29 

ence  ;  so  does  his  heart  leap  within  him.  Can  he  then, 
on  the  principles  of  human  nature,  communicate  that  which 
is  dark  and  desolate  in  his  experience  and  prospects  ? 
No.  He  counts  not  that  which  has  been  lost,  hut  that 
which  is  found.  Probably  there  is  no  feeling  in  the  bosom 
of  others,  which  Christians  at  home  are  so  incapable  of 
apprehending,  as  that  which  animates  the  missionary  in 
seeing  a  work  of  grace  go  forward,  to  a  glorious  and 
successful  issue,  in  the  heart  of  a  heathen.  We  may 
rejoice,  measurably,  at  the  reception  of  such  tidings  ;  we 
may  sympathize  in  the  joy  of  the  missionary  ;  we  may 
admire  the  arm  that  brought  the  wondrous  deliverance  ; 
but,  he  only  can  estimate  the  intrinsic  merits  of  the  sub- 
ject who  has  been  the  instrument  of  the  work.  Conse- 
quently, no  one  else  can  fully  understand  his  joys.  Well 
may  it  be  said,  that  with  them  the  "  Stranger  intermed- 
dled] not." 

Notwithstanding  all  these  considerations,  which  excul- 
pate the  foreign  missionary  from  any  design  to  give  the 
church  a  partial  view  of  the  difficulties  in  the  case  ;  the 
amount  of  obstacle  is  not  properly  ascertained.  Who 
has  not  noticed,  that  at  our  great  religious  anniversaries, 
the  balance  of  sentiment  is  decidedly  on  the  side  of  hope 
and  encouragement  ?  It  would  almost  seem,  on  such 
occasions,  that  the  battle  was  well  nigh  finished  ;  and 
that  the  world,  with  one  acclaim,  was  about  to  acknow- 
ledge Jesus  Christ  as  its  ruler.  This  state  of  feeling 
honors  the  heart  of  those  who  compose  those  great  con- 
vocations ;  but  if  the  veil  which  shrouds  the  hidden 
abominations  of  heathenism  could  be  drawn  aside,  the 
conviction  would  be  vivid,  that  the  mind   had  but  imper- 


30  THOUGHTS  ON    A 

fectly  examined  the  matter.  Those  most  intimate  with 
the  arcana  of  heathenism,  have  often  mourned  over  this 
fact ;  and  they  have  wished  that  it  were  otherwise.  They 
would  that  Christians  should  retire  from  those  great 
meetings,  as  did  the  disciples  from  the  scenes  of  Calvary — 
trusting  yet  weeping.  Then,  they  believe,  more  would 
go  to  their  closets,  to  pray  for  the  descent  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  upon  the  mission  enterprise.  This  would  lead  to 
the  exercise  of  more  entire  dependence  upon  God. 
Means  would  appear  but  as  means.  No  undue  impor- 
tance would  be  attached  to  wealth,  talents,  names,  or  to 
the  beauty  and  seeming  adaptation  of  evangelical  en- 
ginery to  the  world's  conversion.  It  is  probable,  that  as 
the  result  of  this  frame  of  mind,  the  missionary  would 
find  a  new  influence  attending  his  labors.  The  arid 
plains  of  heathenism,  so  to  speak,  would  all  at  once  ap- 
pear clad  in  verdure  and  beauty.  The  dew  of  the  Spirit 
would  fall  noiselessly  upon  the  mind  ;  and  without  appa- 
rent cause,  the  cry  for  mercy  through  a  crucified  Saviour, 
would  be  heard  among  those  whose  hearts  had  seemed 
steeled  against  any  hallowing  influence.  Ah  !  when  the 
church  shall  be  found  at  the  foot  of  the  cross,  urging  with 
holy  importunity  the  prayer  of  faith  ;  placing  no  reliance 
upon  an  arm  of  flesh;  the  cause  of  missions  must  prevail  ! 
Be  this  as  it  may,  however,  it  is  certain  that  the  im- 
pulse which  the  cause  receives  from  the  stimulant  of  high 
hope  is  not  so  valuable,  will  not  be  so  lasting, — and  it 
might  be  added  not  so  pleasing  to  God — as  that  which  is 
the  result  of  a  full  appreciation  of  the  discouragements  in 
the  way.  In  the  former  case,  we  may  have  the  aid  of 
our  animal  sympathies,  and  of  all  that  is  romantic  in  our 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  31 

nature.  In  the  latter,  we  shall  go  on  from  principle. 
Having  counted  the  cost,  we  shall  not  be  turned  back. 
Defeat  will  not  hinder,  nor  success  quicken  our  labors. 
To  be  permitted  to  use  the  means  for  the  world's  conver- 
sion, will  be  sufficient  to  cheer  the  heart. 

The  unhappy  result  of  the  state  of  things  just  con- 
sidered is,  that  Christians  are  less  ingenious  in  devising 
plans  of  effort  to  benefit  the  heathen  ;  or  in  improving 
those  already  in  operation.  If  it  be  said  that  this  remark 
impeaches  the  wisdom  and  enterprise  of  the  present  mis- 
sion boards  ;  we  reply,  that  those  who  say  thus,  assume 
that  the  present  plans  have  reached  perfection.  That 
the  plans  of  our  great  societies  are  formed  and  prosecuted 
with  peculiar  wisdom,  has  been  most  cordially  granted  in 
a  former  chapter  ;  but  to  deny  that  various  new  modifi- 
cations of  christian  effort  will  not  be  required  as  the  work 
proceeds,  evinces  but  a  limited  acquaintance  with  the 
condition  of  the  heathen. 

Indeed,  it  may  be  presumed  that  a  better  acquaintance 
with  the  wants  of  the  world,  may  lead  to  the  formation 
of  some  society  like  that  contemplated  in  the  following 
extract  ;  from  the  pen  of  an  experienced  missionary  and 
able  writer.*  "  If,"  says  he,  "  in  addition  to  those  already 
in  existence,  there  were  also  an  institution  for  the  promo- 
tion of  agriculture,  mechanic  arts,  and  social  order,  and 
the  general  civilization  of  rude  and  barbarous  tribes ;  such 
a  society  would  exert  a  beneficial  and  powerful  influence, 
and  furnish  an  important  agency  in  conjunction  with 
those  now  engaged." 

*  Ellis's  Polynesian  Researches,  Vol.  II.  p,  220. 


32  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

It  will  probably  be  worse  than  useless,  however,  to 
attempt  any  organization  of  the  nature  proposed  in  this 
extract,  unless  it  first  be  well  understood  that  all  attempts 
at  the  general  civilization  of  rude  nations  will  end  in  dis- 
appointment, except  they  follow,  or  go  hand  in  hand  with 
the  gospel.  The  extract  is  only  made  to  show,  that 
among  the  most  distinguished  missionaries  there  are  those 
who  deem  new  modifications  of  missionary  effort  desi- 
rable. 

For  the  same  reason  the  following  sentiment  is  pre- 
sented. It  is  contained  in  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
Thurston  and  Bishop  of  the  Sandwich  Island  mission. 
"  We  still  cherish  the  hope,"  they  write,  "  of  doing  some- 
thing ere  long  by  way  of  instructing  this  people  in  the 
art  of  making  cloth.  To  what  extent  this  might  be  done 
we  have  no  means  of  determining.  A  few  wheels  and 
other  apparatus  for  carding,  spinning,  and  weaving  cloth, 
might  seem  sufficient  to  make  the  experiment  ;  and  so  it 
might,  were  there  any  person  able  and  ready  to  instruct 
them.  We  feel  ourselves  inadequate  to  devise  any  plan 
that  shall  be  practicable,  so  long  as  the  means  for  its  ac- 
complishment are  out  of  our  reach.  But  we  most  ear- 
nestly invite  the  friends  of  civilization  to  the  subject,  etc.'' 

In  speaking  of  the  Chinese,  the  missionary  Gutzlaff 
says,  "  it  is  very  desirable  to  let  them  feel  the  edge  of 
our  scientific  superiority  ;  1  have  therefore  become  the 
editor  of  a  monthly  Chinese  periodical,  and  wish  to  pub- 
lish several  works  upon  science  separately." 

These  considerations  are  worthy  of  careful  attention. 
They  have  been  here  presented,  as  was  intimated,  merely 
to  strengthen  the  position  that,  new  modifications  of  chris- 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  33 

tian  effort  are  expected  by  those   best  acquainted  with 
heathenism  :  and  that  they  should  be  sought  out  by  us. 
The  preponderance  of  hope  may  lead  to  a  course  the 
reverse  of  this. 


CHAPTER  m. 

Statement  of  our  plan.     Arguments  in  favor  of  it  drawn  from  the 
commission  which  Jesus  Christ  gave  to  the  first  missionaries. 

Hitherto  our  remarks  have  been  rather  incidental  and 
preliminary.  We  will  now  proceed  to  the  statement  of 
the  plan  which  it  is  the  design  of  these  pages  to  commend 
to  the  consideration  of  the  church  ; — a  plan  possessing, 
in  the  opinion  of  many,  elements  of  great  adaptation  to  the 
wants  of  the  heathen,  and  well  calculated  to  aid  in  the 
work  of  missions.  We  say  to  aid,  because  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  all  new  modifications  of  missionary  effort  may 
be  used  co-ordinately  with  the  noble  operations  going 
forward  through  existing  Societies.  While  all  advantage 
should  be  taken  of  progressive  experience  and  accumula- 
ted knowledge,  to  vary  evangelical  enterprise  ;  it  should 
be  deemed  a  privilege  to  counsel  with,  and  if  wished,  be 
directed  by  those  who  have  long  been  in  the  field  as  pio- 
neers. Nobly  have  they  done.  Their  praise  is  in  all 
the  churches.  Their  names  are  written  on  many  a  heart 
below  ;  and  heaven's  blest  song  is  sung  by  those  who 
had  never  joined  in  it  but  for  them. 

In  fact,  a  strong  reason,  which  has  led  to  the  prepara- 
tion of  these  pages,  is  found  in  the  following  remarks  from 
the  pen  of  one  of  the  secretaries  of  the  American  Board.* 

"  A  class  of  laborers  is  needed,"  he  says,  "  who 

*  Rev.  R.  Anderson's  introductory  essay  to  the  "  Life  of 
Mrs.  Ellis." 


THOUGHTS,  ETC.  35 

may  find  homes  in  the  families  of  married  missionaries, 
and  enjoy  all  their  advantages,  without  being  entangled 
with  the  cares  which  families  necessarily  produce.  There 
might  be  one  or  two  unmarried  missionaries  connected 
with  every  considerable  station.  These,  without  embar- 
rassment of  any  kind,  might  take  a  wide  range,  visit 
schools  wherever  established,  hold  meetings  wherever 
practicable,  distribute  books  and  tracts,  collect  informa- 
tion, watch  for  opening  doors,  and  act  the  part  of  the 
van-guard,  and  scouting  parties  of  an  army.  Such  men, 
when  worn  down  with  labors  or  attacked  with  diseases, 
may  have  comfortable  homes  to  which  they  may  retreat 
for  assistance  and  refreshment.  Missionaries  of  this  class 
would  have  many  opportunities  for  doing  good,  denied  to 
such  as  are  confined  at  home  by  the  cares  of  a  family." 
To  return.     The   plan  we  desire  to  present  is  simply 

that  of  QUALIFYING  AND  SENDING  ABROAD  MEN  TO  HEAL 
THE    SICK,  AND    PREACH   THE    GOSPEL.       In  Other  Words, 

to  combine  the  qualifications  for  healing  and  preaching 
in  the  same  missionary. 

By  this  it  is  not  designed  to  send  physicians,  and  have 
them  attached  to  missionary  stations,  to  attend  to  the 
wants  of  the  missionaries  themselves,  and  to  the  heathen 
immediately  in  their  neighborhood.  This,  as  need  scarcely 
be  said,  is  now  the  case  with  every  important  station.  It 
is  meant  that  these  men  should  be  unmarried,  generally 
itinerant,  and  left  to  the  providence  of 'God  to  direct  to 
their  fields  of  labor. 

Perhaps  the  most  striking  illustration  in  modern  times 
of  the  class  of  laborers  proposed,  may  be  found  in  the 
person  and  work  of  the  missionary  Gutzlaff.     By  tracing 


36  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

his  eventful  labors  in  China,  and  noticing  his  indebted- 
ness to  medical  skill  for  his  success  in  that  nation,  the 
idea  of  raising  up  a  band  of  itinerant  medical  missionaries 
has  gained  favor  in  the  hearts  of  many.  In  all  subsequent 
remarks  the  reader  will  please  to  refer  to  that  individual — 
as  he  appeared  on  his  voyages  to  the  north-eastern  coast 
of  China — for  an  embodying  of  the  kind  of  laborers  pro- 
posed. 

Among  the  arguments  that  may  be  brought  forward 
to  show  the  desirableness  of  such  a  class  of  missionaries, 
great  prominence  should  be  given  to  the  plan  of  labor 
marked  out  by  Jesus  Christ  for  those  who  were  commis- 
sioned by  himself  in  person.  Before  turning  to  the  record 
of  the  details,  as  given  in  the  New  Testament  ;  some 
preliminary  remarks  may  be  appropriate. 

It  is  not  an  unnatural  supposition — but,  in  fact  a  rea- 
sonable expectation — that  He  whose  wisdom  is  infinite, 
and  who  saw  the  circumstances  of  all  coming  time  at  a 
glance  would  have  traced  for  the  benefit  of  his  followers, 
some  of  the  general  outlines  of  the  best  missionary  plan. 
He  could  not  but  have  seen  that  the  humble  Christian 
would  faithfully  and  anxiously  search  the  Scriptures,  for 
directions  on  a  point  so  intimately  connected  with  the 
Divine  glory,  so  important  to  the  salvation  of  the  hea- 
then, and  so  dear  to  the  bosom  of  the  believer.  On 
other  points  of  deep  practical  interest,  such  as  prayer, 
treatment  of  neighbors,  chastity,  marriage,  war,  worldly 
cares,  and  the  like,  he  finds  such  intimations  of  the  Divine 
will  as  the  Mature  of  those  subjects  requires.  And,  on 
matters  which  could  not  well  be  enumerated  ;  he  finds 
a  precept  which  covers  all  the   field,  in  the   words  : — 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  37 

"  Therefore  all  things  whatsoever  ye  would  that  men 
should  do  to  you,  do  ye  even  so  to  them  :  for  this  is  the 
law  and  the  prophets." 

As  has  just  been  said,  on  the  subject  of  missions,  it 
might  be  expected  that  some  directions  would  have  been 
given,  more  specific  than  those  uttered  on  the  hill-side  of 
Olivet. 

This  natural  a  priori  expectation  seems  inseparable 
from  the  nature  of  the  case.  Is  it  not  amply  fulfilled, 
even  to  the  minutest  detail,  in  the  commission  received 
from  the  lips  of  the  Saviour,  by  the  first  missionary  band  ? 
It  is  not  a  little  remarkable  that  Jesus  Christ  passed 
over  the  subject  of  ecclesiastical  organization  with  a  few 
general  instructions,  too  vague  perhaps  to  furnish  material 
for  a  particular  mode  of  church  government  ;  while  to 
the  missionary  corps  he  gave  directions  the  most  minute 
and  detailed.  Has  this  obvious  fact  ever  received  the 
attention  it  demands  ?  Have  we  liberty  to  pass  untried 
a  plan  definitely  described  by  the  great  Leader  of  Mis- 
sions ? 

We  may  here  be  met,  with  the  suggestion,  that  a 
plan  of  labor,  or  code  of  directions,  which  was  suited  to 
the  Apostles  and  other  of  the  early  missionaries,  is  not 
adapted  to  the  present  order  of  things  in  heathen  coun- 
tries ;  and  would  not  be  the  best  for  modern  missionaries 
to  pursue.  Let  the  mind  which  gives  birth  to  such  a 
thought  seriously  inquire,  whether  the  bare  suggestion  be 
not  an  impeachment  of  the  Divine  wisdom  ;  in  having 
left  upon  the  inspired  Directory  that  which  is  not  worthy 
of  imitation.  Honest  inquiry  may  lend  to  the  conclusion, 
that  the  not  adapting  the  mode  sketched  in  the  New 
4 


38  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

Testament  is  the  secret  of  the  comparative  ill  success  of 
modem  missions.  At  all  events,  the  objection  should  be 
well  pondered  before  it  becomes  a  matter  of  fixed  belief. 

Human  wisdom  is  never  so  apt  to  err  as  when  it  essays 
to  improve  upon  Bible  plans  and  Bible  ethics.  And  it 
is  ever  found  to  be  true,  that,  in  proportion  as  a  return 
is  made  to  the  simple  directions  of  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
success  is  found  to  ensue.  This  is  invariably  the  case, 
as  well  in  the  details  of  moral  philosophy  as  in  the 
arrangements  of  private,  practical  life.  Why  should  it 
not  be  so  in  the  case  under  consideration  ? 

It  is  true  that  we  may  do  well  to  put  in  operation  vari- 
ous instrumentalities  that  are  not  specifically  noticed  in 
the  Bible  ;  as,  for  instance,  those  designed  by  the  various 
benevolent  societies  of  the  age  ;  but  where  specific  direc- 
tions are  indicated,  concerning  any  particular  branch  of 
christian  effort,  it  is  not  so  clear  that  we  are  prudent  in 
departing  materially  therefrom.  At  all  events,  it  becomes 
us  to  be  able  "  to  give  a  reason"  for  such  departure. 
The  general  notion,  not  properly  analyzed  perhaps,  that 
circumstances  have  so  altered  since  the  missionary  com- 
mission was  given  by  Jesus  Christ  as  to  render  it  wise  to 
alter  his  plan,  may  not  be  satisfactory  to  the  great  Head 
of  the  church. 

Those  who  think  such  a  departure  wise  are  bound  to 
sustain  one  or  all  of  three  positions  ;  namely,  that  the 
Apostles  and  the  Seventy  were  not  missionaries  in  the 
proper  sense  of  that  term  ;  or,  secondly,  that  there  is  a 
radical  difference  in  the  circumstances  which  now  meet 
the  missionary  in  foreign  lands  and  those  under  which  the 
first  missionaries  were  placed  ;  or,  lastly,  that  there  was 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  39 

an  object  then  desired  as  the  result  of  missionary  labor 
which  is  not  now  desirable.  In  other  words,  it  must  be 
shown  that  the  former  and  latter  missionaries  have  not  an 
identity  of  office,  a  similarity  of  obstacles  to  combat,  and 
a  oneness  of  purpose.  Let  the  affirmative  of  either  of 
these  propositions  be  satisfactorily  sustained,  and  the  wis- 
dom of  a  different  plan  from  that  pencilled  on  the  pages 
of  the  New  Testament  may  be  more  apparent.  If  these 
cannot  be  sustained,  we  of  course  shall  do  well  at  least 
to  try  the  experiment  of  the  plan  that  Christ  saw  fit  to 
give  the  church,  before  his  departure  from  earth. 

Were  not,  therefore,  the  Apostles  and  the  Seventy, 
missionaries  ;  in  the  true  sense  of  that  term  ? 

It  were,  perhaps,  trenching  upon  clerical  ground  for  a 
lay  writer  to  venture  upon  the  exegesis  of  biblical  terms 
and  we  shall  not  undertake  it.  But  we  have  been  taught 
that  the  word  apostle  signifies  one  that  is  sent.  The 
fact,  that  the  Twelve  were  sent  abroad  to  publish  the 
glad  things  of  salvation,  gave  them  the  very  tide  by  winch 
they  are  known  in  history.  And  although  there  has 
been  supposed  to  be  a  marked  difference  in  the  purpose 
for  which  the  Seventy  were  appointed,  it  cannot  well  be 
denied  that  they  also  were  missionaries  of  the  infant 
church.  These  two  classes  were  the  men  upon  whom 
the  work  of  missions  was  placed  by  the  Saviour.  They 
differed  from  bishops,  pastors,  and  teachers,  whose  offices 
were  created  after  the  faith  had  spread,  and  churches 
had  been  organized.  They  stand  in  marked  distinctness 
upon  the  history  of  their  times,  as  the  bearers  of  the  great 
news  of  salvation  to  different  and  distant  people.  So  ob- 
vious are  the  points  of  resemblance,  that  we  may  con- 


40  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

elude  they  were,  to  the  infant  church,  what  is  now  de- 
signed to  be  embodied  in  the  work  of  a  modern  mis- 
sionary ;  and  that,  so  far  as  identity  of  office  is  concerned, 
the  eighty-two  commissioned  by  Jesus  Christ,  and  a 
foreign  missionary  of  our  own  times,  stand  in  the  same 
relation  to  the  church. 

It  is  true,  that  the  eighty-two  were  clothed  with 
powers  denied  to  the  latter  ;  such  as  the  ability  to  work 
miracles,  and,  in  some  instances,  to  write  with  the  pen  of 
inspiration.  But,  apart  from  these  qualifications,  which 
were  needed  only  in  the  infancy  of  the  new  dispensation, — 
there  are  clear  proofs,  we  think,  of  the  position  just  as- 
sumed. This,  then,  is  an  argument,  well  worthy  a  can- 
did examination,  in  favor  of  now  following  the  general 
plan  marked  out  by  Divine  wisdom  for  the  early  messen- 
gers of  salvation. 

Secondly.  Are  the  circumstances  attending  the  labors 
of  the  former  and  latter  missionary  so  obviously  different, 
as  to  justify  a  departure  from  the  course  selected  by  the 
Saviour.  Or,  at  least,  ought  we  not  to  make  trial  of  that 
plan,  if  a  similarity  of  obstacles  can  be  proved  to  exist  ? 

This  is  an  important  matter  for  consideration  ;  and 
the  general  opinion  that  "  circumstances  are  different," 
should  be  temporarily  dismissed  from  the  mind,  that  it 
may  receive  a  fair,  unbiassed  examination. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  results,  the  most  signal  and 
important  to  the  cause  of  truth,  followed  the  labors  of 
the  first  missionaries  ;  and  in  the  efforts  of  Gutzlaff  and 
others  in  our  own  day,  who  have  measurably  followed 
the  course  they  pursued,  we  have  evidence  that  the  same 
causes  produce  the  same  effects.     Facts  of  the  most  in* 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  41 

teresting  nature,  proving  the  tendency  of  a  judicious  use 
of  medical  skill,  are  reserved  until  a  subsequent  chapter. 

Let  us  now  notice  some  of  the  leading  points  of  re- 
semblance between  the  circumstances  which  met  the  for- 
eign missionary  in  former  times,  and  those  which  attach 
to  the  field  of  labor  in  the  present  day. 

In  the  first  place,  the  same  general  features  of  de- 
pravity are  presented.  The  moral  anatomy  of  man,  like 
that  of  his  physical  organization,  is  the  same  in  all  ages 
and  in  all  countries.  The  same  tendencies  and  impulses 
everywhere  exist;  modified,  of  course,  by  the  various 
extraneous  influences  and  accidents  of  education,  custom, 
and  relations.  Selfishness,  anger,  revenge,  pride,  lust, 
love  of  power  ;  forgetfulness  of  God,  and  the  like,  are 
the  spontaneous  products  of  the  heart,  whether  of  the 
savage  or  the  philosopher,  of  the  degraded  Caffre  or  the 
polished  nobleman,  of  the  Araucanian  that  treads  in  lofty 
daring  the  summit  of  the  Andes,  or  the  effeminate  fop  of 
St.  James's.  It  is  like  the  identity  of  species,  which  the 
anatomist  finds  when  there  is  laid  upon  the  dissecting 
table  the  delicate  babe  of  yesterday,  or  the  muscular  form 
of  the  veteran  sailor. 

Different  phases  of  the  general  laws  of  the  heart  may 
appear,  but  intrinsically  they  are  the  same  ;  and  have 
been  so  since  the  defection  of  our  first  parents.  This, 
then,  is  the  main  feature  of  similarity  in  the  case  be- 
fore us. 

Without  entering  into  the  matter,  in  detail,  it  may  be 

added,  that  the   same  laws  of  mental   philosophy  exist 

now  as  in  former  times,  rendering  the  mind  susceptible 

of  influence  from  the  same  class  of  arguments.     The 

4* 


42  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

mental  constitution  has  undergone  no  perceptible  change. 
This  fact  is  important,  and  should  be  borne  in  mind  as  we 
proceed. 

As  we  pass  to  a  more  minute  examination  under  this 
head,  we  may  notice,  secondly,  that,  to  both  classes  of 
missionaries  one  of  the  most  formidable  of  the  difficulties 
presented  is  that  of  a  corrupt  priesthood.  In  the  Sa- 
viour's time,  we  find  the  principal  opposition  to  the  gos- 
pel coming  from  the  "  chief  priests"  and  rulers.  As  has 
been  well  referred  to  by  a  recent  writer,  "  the  common 
people  heard  him  gladly."  They  saw  in  his  religion  that 
which  commended  it  to  their  common  sense.  It  bore 
upon  its 'fore-front  the  broad  and  beautiful  signet-mark  of 
heaven.  Wherever  it  made  its  way,  blessings  rich  and 
free  were  scattered  all  around  with  a  Divine  exuberance. 
But  the  influence  of  those  who  wore  broad  phylacteries, 
and  who  fasted  with  an  austere  scrupulousness,  while 
with  a  heart  as  foul  as  hell  they  sought  personal  advance- 
ment, would  be  trenched  upon  if  the  Apostles  prevailed. 
These  were  the  religious  teachers  of  that  age.  And,  as 
might  have  been  expected — and  in  fact  was  foretold  in 
prophecy — they  kindled  the  fiercest  fires  of  opposition. 
Their  hands  mingled  the  ingredients  of  the  bitterest 
chalice  that  was  put  to  the  lips  of  the  blessed  Master,  and 
his  unoffending  missionaries.  All  other  influence  com- 
bined as  compared  with  theirs,  weighed  not  a  feather 
against  the  cause  of  Jesus  ! 

It  is  unnecessary  to  speak  particularly  of  the  difficul- 
ties of  the  kind  alluded  to,  which  came  upon  the  first 
missionaries  from  those  who  ministered  in  the  rites  of  pa- 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  43 

ganism.     These   are   familiar  to  every  intelligent  mind, 
and  the  mention  of  them  might  be  tedious  to  the  reader. 

Now,  in  these  particulars  we  may  see  a  counterpart  of 
a  class  of  difficulties — and  one  of  the  most  appalling  too — 
under  which  the  modern  missionary  labors.  Go  where 
we  may,  in  heathen  nations,  and  with  scarcely  an  excep- 
tion the  world  over,  we  find  a  corrupt  priesthood  bloating 
itself  upon  the  people  and  fastening  to  them  with  the 
fangs  of  a  serpent.  They  hold  absolute  empire  over 
thought,  from  the  king  to  the  beggar  ;  and  the  fountain 
head  of  true  knowledge,  whether  sacred  or  profane,  is 
poisoned  by  them.  With  all  pagan  governments  they 
have  intertwined  their  doctrines,  until  the  arrangements 
of  political  economy,  and  the  codes  of  jurisprudence  feel 
their  withering  influence.  Not  a  palm-thatched  cottage 
lifts  its  head  by  the  way,  but  its  inmates  feel  their  iron 
hand,  in  one  form  or  another.  The  road-side  is  strewn 
with  the  blanched  bones  of  wretched  pilgrims,  induced 
by  them  to  wander  wearily  to  a  far  distant  idol ;  but  who 
have  sunk  beneath  the  accumulated  weight  of  remorse, 
poverty,  disease,  and  fatigue.  So  numerous  has  this 
army  of  false  teachers  become,  and  so  artfully  have  their 
systems  been  managed,  that,  in  many  nations  they  hold 
a  commanding  and  paramount  influence  ! 

It  may  be  affirmed,  we  repeal,  that  in  the  particular 
just  considered,  the  former  and  latter  missionaries  have 
the  same,  with  which  to  contend. 

A  third  point  of  similarity  is  observable  in  the  extreme 
seeming  inadequacy  of  the  means  of  each,  to  effect  any 
sensible  change  upon  the  nations. 

How  insignificant  to  human  view  was  that  little  band  of 


44  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

believers,  gathered  in  sorrow  into  the  upper  chamber  at 
Jerusalem  !  How  amazing  the  difficulties  they  must 
meet,  in  carrying  out  the  command  of  their  ascended 
Lord  !  One  would  almost  think  that  the  fewness  of  the 
number  of  the  disciples,  as  compared  with  the  host  of 
their  enemies,  would  necessarily  eventuate  in  their  entire 
discomfiture.  How  could  they  expect  even  to  arrest 
attention,  or  to  gain  a  hearing  for  their  story  ?  That 
insensibility  to  eternal  interests,  which  even  lays  its  pal- 
sying influence  upon  the  devotee  of  a  false  religion,  as 
well  as  upon  the  hypocritical  professor  of  the  true  faith  ; 
had  so  spread  itself  among  the  people  as  to  leave  but 
faint  hopes  of  success.  The  cares  of  the  world,  the  pur- 
suit of  wealth,  and  the  gratification  of  lust  and  passion, 
added  their  peculiar  difficulties  in  the  case.  As  a  gene- 
ral thing,  no  natural  predilections  or  inbred  associations  in 
favor  of  the  pure  religion  of  Jesus,  existed.  Some  Anna, 
bent  with  age,  might  be  seen  watching  day  and  night  with- 
in the  temple  walls,  with  a  true  heart,  to  see  him  of 
whom  the  prophets  had  spoken.  And  among  the  despi- 
sed and  down-trodden  of  Israel's  flock,  a  chosen  few 
might  be  found  who  would  not  be  offended  because  of  the 
lowly,  earthly  condition  of  the  Messiah,  or  of  the  severe 
and  self  denying  principles  of  his  religion.  But,  (sad 
fact !)  almost  every  step  that  Christianity  gained  was 
against  the  most  fearful  opposition.  There  is  not,  prob- 
ably, in  the  world's  history,  the  record  of  a  resistance  so 
general  and  sudden  as  that  which  appeared  against  the 
gospel  dispensation.  It  spread  with  the  subtlety  and  ra- 
pidity of  the  electric  fluid,  mocking  the  general  laws  that 
govern  the  public  mind.     It  could  be  accounted  for  only 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES. 


45 


by  supposing  the  invisible  agency  of  a   malignant,  super- 
human power. 

In  addition  to  this,  the  opposition  was  characterized 
by  a  virulence,  and  exhibited  such  effects  in  the  persons 
of  the  opposers,  as  to  stamp  it  with  awful  interest.  It 
was  not  simply  the  firm  encounter  between  two  powerful 
parties,  in  which,  though  the  contest  be  long  continued 
and  severe  the  honorableness  of  fair  debate  is  held  sacred  ; 
and  personal  courtesy,  and  respect  to  age  and  sex  are 
held  inviolate.  No  :  a  demon-spirit  was  abroad.  Men 
high  in  office,  and  amply  furnished  with  the  intellectual 
wealth  of  that  intellectual  age,  seemed  maddened  with 
rage  when  they  saw  how  surely  the  foolish  things  of  this 
world  could  confound  the  wise,  and  the  weak  could  van- 
quish the  mighty.  Many  a  Saul  might  have  been  found, 
with  commission  from  the  great  Sanhedrim,  to  put  to 
death  those  who  were  willing  to  own  and  follow  Christ. 
In  short,  all  that  the  malice  and  treachery  and  cunning  of 
the  enemy  of  righteousness  could  do  to  crush  the  infant 
church,  was  promptly  arrayed  against  it. 

Thus  hinting,  merely,  at  some  of  the  opposing  forces 
that  met  the  first  missionary  band ;  leaving  to  the  reader 
the  filling  up  of  the  dark  picture,  if  he  please,  it  may  now 
be  asked, — if  there  be  not  at  the  present  day  the  same 
seeming  inadequacy  of  means  to  effect  any  change  upon 
the  nations  ? 

It  is  true  that  less  of  malignity  is  experienced  by  the 
modern  missionary  than  marked  the  treatment  of  his  pro- 
totype in  early  days.  But  the  cause  of  this  unquestion- 
ably is,  that,  the  heathen  see  less  clearly,  than  did  oppo- 
sers formerly,  the  real  bearing  of  Christianity  upon  their 


46  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

individual  lusts  and  wickedness.  And  further,  the  priests 
of  false  religions  see  little  or  no  immediate  danger  to  their 
craft.  In  fact,  the  startling  inquiry  forces  itself  upon  the 
Christian's  mind — and  calls  loudly  for  an  answer: — 
What  have  the  latter  to  fear,  when,  in  the  language  of  the 
poor  Mahratta,  "  it  is  eighteen  hundred  years  since  Jesus 
Christ  ascended  to  heaven,  and  yet  we  (they)  never 
heard  of  him  or  his  religion  till  four  or  five  years 
ago  !" 

But  while  there  is  less  of  malignity  for  the  modern 
missionary  to  contend  with,  there  is  what  is  still  more  dis- 
couraging,- namely,  an  appalling  indifference  to  his  mes- 
sage. The  close  student  of  human  nature  would  far 
rather  see  the  fires  of  opposition  flashing  around,  and 
hear  the  uneasy  swellings  of  concern,  than  find  the  ear  of 
those  to  whom  he  would  address  himself,  heavy ;  and 
their  feelings  in  nowise  moved  at  his  coming.  That  this 
indifference  exists  to  an  almost  disheartening  extent,  can- 
not be  denied.  At  the  Sandwich  Islands,  and  perhaps  a 
few  other  missionary  stations,  it  may  not  be  difficult  to 
collect  a  crowded  and  attentive  audience  to  attend  upon 
the  preaching  of  the  gospel.  But  with  these  few  excep- 
tions, groups  of  forty,  fifty,  or  a  hundred  only,  can  be 
gathered ;  while  there  are,  perhaps,  within  reach  of  the 
preacher's  eye  a  thousand  idlers,  and  thrice  that  number 
bowing  before  an  idol-god.  This  point  deserves  more 
than  a  passing  notice,  for  it  illustrates  the  subtlety  of 
Satan's  policy  ;  who,  at  one  time  goads  his  followers  on 
to  mad  persecution,  and  at  another  almost  stupifies  their 
intellectual  as  well  as  moral  faculties.  We  may  not  fond- 
ly think  that,  because  no  martyr-blood  flows  on  the  plains 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  47 

of  India,  the  arch-enemy  of  our  faith  is  weary  of  opposi- 
tion.    Alas  !  far  otherwise  is  the  fact. 

To  show  that  the  indifference  to  which  we  have  allu- 
ded is  real,  the  following  extract,  among  a  score  at  hand, 
is  given.  "  The  number  of  occasional  hearers"  says  the 
Rev.  Hollis  Read,  "  varies  of  course  with  times  and  cir- 
cumstances. At  the  Bombay  station,  where  a  person  in 
order  to  hear  the  preacher,  must  formally  enter  the  chap- 
el, go  up  a  flight  of  steps  and  seat  himself  among  the  as- 
sembly, the  number  of  occasional  hearers  does  not  prob- 
ably, on  an  average,  exceed  three  on  each  Sabbath. 
The  number  at  Ahmednuggur  is  much  greater.  Our 
preaching  places  there  are  open  sheds,  by  the  side  of  a 
public  street,  or  near  some  place  of  concourse.  As  the 
people  pass  and  repass,  they  are  attracted  to  the  place  by 
seeing  the  little  assembly  which  those  who  are  required 
to  attend  make.  They  then  stand  without,  or  enter,  as 
they  choose,  and  come  and  go,  as  they  please.  In  this 
way  our  occasional  hearers  sometimes  amount  to  fifty  ; 
sometimes  a  hundred." 

Here  it  ought  to  be  remarked  that,  the  general  indif- 
ference spoken  of,  in  nowise  clashes  with  the  encouraging 
facts  that  come  to  us  from  heathen  lands.  All  those  re- 
ports are,  beyond  a  question,  true.  They  may  be  in- 
creased a  thousand  fold  without  trenching  upon  the  pro- 
position under  consideration.  The  anxious  Karen  may 
again  and  again  come  from  his  distant  home  on  purpose 
to  procure  a  tract  which  tells  of  Jesus  Christ ;  and  crowds 
may  gather  around  the  faithful  GutzlafF  as  he  shall  pur- 
sue his  voyages  along  the  eastern  coast  of  China,  while 
the  mass  of  heathen  mind  may  lie   as  motionless  as  the 


48  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

Dead  Sea.  How  long  this  state  of  things  shall  continue 
is  known  only  to  Omniscience.  But  of  one  thing  we  may 
be  certain,  that,  when  the  claims  of  God's  pure  and  holy 
law  shall  pierce  the  heart  of  the  religious  teachers,  and 
shall  measurably  pervade  the  public  mind,  the  missionary 
will  find  the  fires  of  bloody  and  malign  persecution  kind- 
ling around  him. 

In  addition  to  this  disheartening  influence — which  has 
taken  the  place,  for  a  time,  of  the  persecuting  spirit  of 
former  days — we  must  take  into  account,  not  only  the 
forms  of  wickedness  and  error  common  to  all  unregene- 
rate  men  ;  but  those  superinduced  by  idolatry,  than  which, 
nothing  can  be  more  appalling,  and  difficult  to  combat. 
It  were  in  vain  to  attempt  the  presentation  of  facts  in  the 
latter  connexion.  In  the  recesses  of  heathenism  there  is 
a  complexity  and  profundity  of  abomination,  incommuni- 
cable by  human  language.  The  poor  missionary  to  a 
certain  extent  understands  it,  and  he  only. 

Surely  all  these  considerations  will  force  to  the  con- 
clusion that  so  far  as  the  seeming  inadequacy  of  the 
means  to  effect  a  desirable  change  is  concerned,  the  latter 
missionary  occupies  no  vantage  ground  over  the  former. 

The  third  point  which  it  would  seem  necessary  to  es- 
tablish, before  we  leave  entirely  untried  the  missionary 
plan  marked  out  by  the  Saviour,  is,  that  there  was  an  ob- 
ject formerly  contemplated  different  from  the  missionary 
purposes  of  the  present  age. 

If  there  were  this  difference,  then,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
we  might,  if  we  pleased,  vary  from  that  model.  It  would 
be  excuse  sufficient  were  we  to  show  that  other  ends  were 
in  view.     But  it  is  presumed  no  such  opinion  will  be  ad- 


NEW  ORDER  OF    MISSIONARIES.  49 

vanced.  The  same  grand  designs  are  now,  as  they  were 
then,  the  moving  purposes  of  the  church,  namely,  the 
glory  of  God  in  the  salvation  of  the  heathen  ;  and,  inci- 
dentally, the  amelioration  of  their  temporal  condition. 
The  latter  is  held  entirely  subordinate  to  the  former. 
This  was  so  much  the  case  in  the  labors  of  the  early  mis- 
sionaries, that  we  can  but  faintly  discern  any  efforts  on 
their  part  to  advance  the  knowledge  of  the  natural  sciences 
or  the  useful  arts.  Is  there  not  too  great  a  tendency  on 
the  part  of  modern  missionaries  to  give  an  undue  promi- 
nence to  things  temporal,  as  a  means  of  evangelizing  and 
blessing  the  heathen  ? 

It  is  easy  to  see  how  the  train  of  thought  contained  in 
this  chapter  might  be  extended.  What  has  been  said 
may  serve  as  hints,  leading  the  mind  to  expatiate  in  the 
wide  field  to  which  they  invite. 

Our  conclusion  is  this,  that  a  striking  similarity  of  cir- 
cumstances obtains  between  the  former  and  the  latter 
missionaries,  in  so  far  as  regards  the  identity  of  their 
office,  the  amount  of  obstacles  presented  to  each,  and  the 
seeming  inadequacy  of  the  means  of  each,  successfully  to 
encounter  them  ;  and  the  entire  unity  of  their  purposes. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  missionary  commission,  as  given  by  the  Saviour  to  the  Twelve, 

and  to  the  Seventy-two. 

It  is  now  in  order  to  notice  the  plan  to  which  allusion 
has  been  so  often  made,  as  recorded  on  the  pages  of  the 
New  Testament. 

This  mode  of  procedure  was  selected,  be  it  remem- 
bered, amid  the  most  appalling  obstacles,  the  practical 
bearing  of  which,  upon  the  attempt  to  spread  the  gospel, 
the  Saviour  well  knew.  He  had  experienced  it  in  his 
own  person.  His  body  bore  the  marks  of  the  lash  ;  and 
his  followers  were  calumniated,  scourged,  and  put  to 
death.  Poverty  was  their  portion.  Persecuted  in  one 
city,  they  fled  to  another.  The  powers  of  the  nether- 
most hell  seemed  to  combine,  for  once  at  least,  all  their 
direst  energies  and  agencies.  To  be  a  follower  of  the 
despised  Nazarene  was,  indeed,  to  be  u  crucified  to  the 
the  world." 

In  addition  to  the  trials  which  came  upon  the  church, 
while  as  yet  the  Saviour  had  not  put  off  his  earthly  tab- 
ernacle, there  were  others  of  a  more  dreadful  nature  yet 
to  come,  which  his  omniscient  ken  distinctly  perceived. 
Well  did  he  know  the  disappointment  his  disciples  would 
experience,  when  the  scenes  of  Calvary  should  have  pass- 
ed away;  and,  when  he  whom  they  "trusted  would 
have  redeemed  Israel,"  should  be  laid  within  the  Arima- 
thean's  tomb.  This  was  a  trial  peculiarly  their  own.  In 
it  Christians  of  a  later  day  cannot  fully  sympathize.     Al- 


THOUGHTS,  ETC.  51 

though,  after  the  day  of  Pentecost  a  new  spirit  of  hope 
and  boldness  seemed  to  possess  the  leading  actors  in  the 
little  band,  we  may  conclude,  on  the  principles  of  human 
nature,  that  the  disappointed  hope  of  seeing  the  Messiah 
a  glorious  temporal  sovereign,  conveyed  some  sadness  to 
the  bosoms  of  the  mass  of  that  generation  of  believers  ; 
and  militated  against  their  efficiency  in  the  work  left  to 
them  to  do. 

Of  the  little  flock  that  surrounded  him,  there  were  those 
who  would  live  to  see  the  fires  of  persecution  lit  up  by 
the  demon  Nero.  Some  of  the  faithful  women,  perhaps, 
of  the  lowly  band,  were  to  utter  their  dying  wail  in  that 
tyrant's  ear,  while,  round  his  palace  gardens  at  midnight, 
a  thousand  burning  christian  corses  should  throw  their  un- 
natural light.  His  eye  glanced  onward  still,  and  in  the 
vista  of  the  first  three  centuries  that  succeeded  his  death 
he  saw  flowing  the  martyr-blood  of  as  many  millions  of 
his  loved  ones.  In  fact,  from  Nero  to  Diocletian  the 
smoke  of  their  funeral  pyres  hung  over  the  church,  a  dark 
and  saddening  cloud ! 

All  this,  and  more  than  this,  the  Lord  of  missions 
knew.  And  under  such  circumstances  and  such  prospects 
he  traced  the  following  general  plan,  marked,  it  may  be 
said,  by  the  plain,  and  perhaps  homely  features  of  com- 
mon sense. 

The  first  missionary  commission  that  will  be  here 
quoted,  is  recorded  in  the  tenth  chapter  of  St.  Matthew's 
Gospel.  As  follows : 

1.  And  when  he  had  called  unto  him  his  twelve  dis- 
ciples, he  gave  them  power  against  unclean  spirits,  to 
cast  them  out,  and  to  heal  all  manner  of  sickness  and  all 
manner  of  disease. 


52  THOUGHTS    ON    A 

2.  Now  the  names  of  the  twelve  apostles  are  these  : 
The  first,  Simon,  who  is  called  Peter,  and  Andrew  his 
brother  ;  James  the  son  of  Zebedee,  and  John  his 
brother  : 

3.  Philip,  and  Bartholomew  ;  Thomas,  and  Matthew 
the  publican  ;  James  the  son  of  Alpheus  ;  and  Lebbeus, 
whose  surname  was  Thaddeus. 

4.  Simon  the  Canaanite  ;  and  Judas  Iscariot,  who  also 
betrayed  him. 

5.  These  twelve  Jesus  sent  forth,  and  commanded 
them,  saying,  go  not  into  the  way  of  the  Gentiles,  and 
into  any  city  of  the  Samaritans  enter  ye  not : 

6.  But  go  rather  to  the  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of 
Israel. 

7.  And,  as  ye  go,  preach,  saying,  The  kingdom  of 
heaven  is  at  hand. 

8.  Heal  the  sick,  cleanse  the  lepers,  etc.  etc. 

St.  Mark  alludes  to  the  same  transaction  in  the  follow- 
ing words.  "  And  he  ordained  twelve,  that  they  should 
be  with  him,  and  that  he  might  send  them  forth  to  preach, 
and  to  have  power  to  heal  sicknesses,  and  to  cast  out 
devils."  Mark  4:  34,15. 

In  the  gospel  by  St.  Luke  a  more  detailed  record  is 
found,  as  well  of  the  ordination  of  the  Seventy  as  of  the 
Twelve. 

Chapter  9:  1,  2.  "  Then  he  called  his  twelve  disciples 
together,  and  gave  them  power  and  authority  over  all 
devils,  and  to  cure  diseases.  And  he  sent  them  to  preach 
the  kingdom  of  God  and  to  heal  the  sick. 

Chapter  10:  1 — 9.  After  these  things  the  Lord  ap- 
pointed other  Seventy  also,  and  sent  them  two  and  two 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  53 

before  his  face  into  every  city  and  place,  whither  he  him- 
self would  come. 

Therefore  said  he  unto  them,  the  harvest  truly  is  great, 
but  the  laborers  are  few  :  pray  ye  therefore  the  Lord  of 
the  harvest,  that  he  would  send  forth  laborers  into  his 
harvest. 

Go  your  ways  :  behold,  I  send  you  forth  as  lambs 
among  wolves. 

Carry  neither  purse,  nor  scrip,  nor  shoes :  and  salute 
no  man  by  the  way. 

And  into  whatever  house  ye  enter,  first  say,  peace  be 
to  this  house. 

And  if  the  son  of  peace  be  there,  your  peace  shall 
rest  upon  it  :  if  not,  it  shall  turn  to  you  again. 

And  in  the  same  house  remain,  eating  and  drinking 
such  things  as  they  give  :  for  the  laborer  is  worthy  of  his 
hire.     Go  not  from  house  to  house. 

And  into  whatsoever  city  ye  enter,  and  they  receive 
you,  eat  such  things  as  are  set  before  you  : 

And  heal  the  sick  that  are  therein,  and  say  unto  them 
the  kingdom  of  God  is  come  nigh  unto  you." 

That  more  convenient  reference  may  be  made  to  this 
missionary  model,  it  may  be  well  that  it  occupy  a  chapter 
by  itself. 


5* 


CHAPTER  V. 

Some  objections  noticed.  Thoughts  on  the  genius  of  our  plan.  A 
peculiar  difficulty  which  embarrasses  the  foreign  missionary,  and 
the  adaptation  of  our  plan  to  meet  it. 

There  are  many  who  will  allow  no  great  weight  to 
the  arguments  in  a  preceding  chapter,  touching  the  iden- 
tity of  office  in  the  work  of  the  former  and  the  latter  mis- 
sionary. And  there  may  be  a  still  larger  number  who 
will  consider  no  part  of  the  first  commission  as  binding 
upon  modern  laborers  among  the  heathen,  because,  as 
they  say,  there  is  a  manifest  impracticability  in  following 
to  the  letter  the  entire  design.  Because  some  of  its  de- 
tails, to  their  view,  are  not  adapted  to  the  circumstances 
of  this  age,  they  unceremoniously  pass  by  the  whole,  as  a 
matter  fit  only  for  the  times  immediately  bordering  upon 
the  days  of  the  Saviour.  And  they  may  further  say  as 
regards  healing  the  sick,  that  that  function  of  the  mission- 
ary office  was  obviously  to  cease  when  the  miraculous 
power  by  which  it  was  exercised  was  withdrawn. 

With  regard  to  the  question  touching  the  identity  of 
office,  we  are  willing  to  waive  it  entirely,  if  need  be ;  and 
to  ask  from  it  no  support  for  the  plan  advocated  in  these 
pages.     It  has  been  noticed  principally  to  elicit  tnought. 

On  the  second  point  we  are  inclined  to  be  more  tena- 
cious. It  cannot  be  admitted  that  because  of  the  imprac- 
ticability of  travelling  in  heathen  nations  without  "  purse 
or  scrip"  we  have  liberty  to  disregard  those  portions  of 
the  design  which  are  practicable.     Nothing  of  truth  is 


THOUGHTS,  ETC.  55 

hazarded  by  saying  that,  as  near  an  approximation  as 
may  be  to  the  exact  letter  of  the  original  commission  is 
worthy  the  profound  and  prayerful  consideration  of  mis- 
sionaries. In  fact,  it  is  no  unworthy  inquiry,  whether  we 
have  not  yet  to  learn  that,  the  entire  mode  of  procedure, 
in  all  its  severe  and  homely  details,  is  to  be  followed,  be- 
fore the  success  of  the  mission  cause  shall  be  at  all  com- 
mensurate with  its  desired  end.  The  simple  question 
thus  proposed  may  savor  of  ultraism ;  but  it  is  not  ven- 
tured without  reflection,  nor  without  some  personal  ac- 
quaintance with  heathenism.  At  all  events,  there  should 
be  a  marked  dependence  upon  a  daily  Providence  for 
daily  supplies,  in  all  the  domestic  and  temporal  arrange- 
ments of  the  missionary.  He  may  not  literally  be  sent 
abroad  without  pecuniary  resources  immediately  in  pos- 
session ;  but  he  must,  if  he  would  commend  himself  and 
his  cause  to  the  mass  of  the  heathen,  embody  the  spirit 
of  the  details  alluded  to.  This  is  a  point  of  no  minor  im- 
portance ;  and  it  is  questionable  whether  it  has  received 
the  attention  it  demands. 

Those  who  have  not  been  in  heathen  countries  cannot 
fully  appreciate  the  train  of  thought  thus  incidentally  fall- 
en upon,  and  which  may  be  pursued  a  step  or  two  fur- 
ther. To  those  who  have  visited  the  shores  of  heathen- 
ism, and  marked  with  an  accurate  eye  the  facts  in  the 
premises,  the  matter  will  commend  itself.  Thus  certain 
of  being  understood  by  one  class  of  readers,  a  few  addi- 
tional remarks  in  this  connexion  may  be  made. 

It  is  a  fact  that,  in  most  heathen  countries,  so  low  has 
idolatry  sunk  its  victims,  that  the  temporal  provision  and 
conveniences  enjoyed  by  the  humblest  missionary,  are 


56  THOUGHTS  ON    A 

far  superior  to  those  which  constitute  the  portion  of  the 
majority  of  the  former.  While  the  missionary  with  a 
noble  self-denial  has  cheerfully  given  up  many  of  the  so- 
cial and  physical  comforts  of  a  christian  community  ;  and 
is  contented  with,  in  many  instances,  a  meagre  supply  of 
his  necessary  requirements,  he  is  still  above  want.  The 
hand  of  poverty, — severe  and  pinching  poverty — is  laid 
on  the  majority  of  all  around  him,  while  the  church  of  a 
nation  is  pledged  for  his  support.  The  naked,  the  home- 
less, the  diseased,  and  the  orphan,  wander  in  crowds 
within  sight  of  his  window  ;  while  of  him  it  cannot  be 
affirmed  that  he  has  no  place  where  to  lay  his  head  ;  or 
that  he  is  friendless.  Thanks,  thanks  be  to  God  that  he 
is  not  thus  left,  and  thanks  too  that  the  church  at  home 
is  permitted  to  share  in  the  privilege  of  adding  to  his 
temporal  well-being. 

But  while  it  rejoices  us  to  know  that  many  blessings 
are  the  portion  of  the  missionaries'  cup,  it  cannot  be  de- 
nied that  their  temporal  circumstances,  as  compared  with 
those  of  the  mass  of  the  heathen,  place  them  in  a  situa- 
tion of  a  most  enviable  nature.  During  the  first  three 
years  of  the  missionary  establishment  at  the  Sandwich 
Islands,  theirs  was  the  only  framed  house  on  the  Island 
of  Oahu,  excepting  that  occupied  by  the  American  Con- 
sul. Now,  it  is,  of  course,  most  freely  admitted,  that 
proper  comfort  and  economy  were  consulted  in  the  erec- 
tion of  the  building  to  which  reference  is  made  ;  but  at 
the  same  time  it  is  a  fact  that  that  dwelling  appeared,  in 
contrast  with  the  fragile,  comfortless  native  tenements 
that  consituted  the  village  of  Honolulu,  like  the  habitation 
of  a  proud   aristocracy.     Christianity  is  the   mother  of 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  57 

comfort,  heathenism  of  misery.  This  is  as  true  of  things 
temporal  as  of  things  eternal.  And  herein  lies  the  diffi- 
culty under  consideration.  To  be  even  decent,  accord- 
ing to  the  code  of  enlightened  civilization,  is  almost  ne- 
cessarily to  elevate  the  individual  above  the  generality  of 
the  heathen.  It  is  hoped  that  the  foregoing  remarks  will 
not  be  misunderstood.  It  is  not  intended  by  them  to  in- 
timate aught  against  the  extreme  simplicity  and  economy 
which  obviously  characterize  the  arrangements  at  the  va- 
rious missionary  stations  in  foreign  lands.  What  has  been 
said  is  merely  to  elicit  inquiry  as  to  the  importance  of 
embodying  as  nearly  as  may  be  the  details  of  the  first  com- 
mission. That  plan  involves  an  unworldliness,  so  to  speak, 
which  could  not  fail  of  arresting  the  attention  of  the  most 
obtuse  and  degraded  heathen.  He  would  notice  in  the 
external  condition  of  the  missionary  who  should  carry  it 
out,  a  willingness  to  be  a  partaker  of  his  sufferings  ;  and 
by  a  law  of  the  mind,  universal  and  immutable — a  mutual 
sympathy  would  run  from  heart  to  heart.  And  then 
would  be  taken  from  the  mouth  of  the  unprincipled  Euro- 
pean adventurer,  the  stale  calumny  which  they  some- 
times seek  to  impress  upon  the  heathen,  that,  the  mis- 
sionary makes  only  merchandise  of  his  religion.  Too  oft, 
alas  !  do  men  from  christian  nations  thus  point  to  the 
comforts  and  blessings  which  the  missionary  enjoys,  and 
by  all  means  within  their  power,  give  currency  to  the 
lie  just  noticed. 

We  may  well  suppose  that  a  band  of  holy  men,  such 
as  were  the  majority  of  the  eighty-two,  travelling  un- 
armed, unattended,  unprovisioned,  throughout  the  regions 
of  heathenism  ;   doing   plain   and   palpable   good  ;  and 


58  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

preaching,  in  childlike  simplicity,  the  doctrines  of  the 
cross,  would  gain  for  them  the  hearts  of  all  in  the  poorer 
walks  of  life.  Their  penury,  their  plainness  of  garb,  and 
their  manner  of  life,  might  not  command  from  the  great 
what  is  called  respect,  nor  gain  them  admittance  into  their 
splendid  dwellings  ;  but  it  would  make  them,  in  a  sense, 
one  with  the  poor,  and  down-trodden.  And  in  so  far  as 
the  latter  class  outnumbered  the  former  would  that  course 
be  desirable. 

But,  probably  to  such  a  course  as  we  have  just  con- 
templated was  the  distinguished  Swartz  greatly  indebted 
for  his  influence  over  the  heathen.  There  was  in  all  his 
domestic  arrangements  the  most  marked  simplicity,  ap- 
proaching very  nearly  to  the  letter  of  the  apostolic  cus- 
tom. His  income  in  the  early  period  of  his  residence  in 
India  was  £48  sterling  per  annum  ;  and  if  this  sum  be 
estimated  by  its  ability  to  procure  supplies  at  that  time,  it 
would  be  but  about  equal  to  £24,  or  one  hundred  and 
ten  dollars.  "  Let  us  see,"  says  his  friend,  "  how  he 
managed  with  this  income.  He  obtained  of  the  com- 
manding officer,  who  perhaps,  was  ordered  to  furnish  him 
with  quarters,  a  room  in  an  old  Gentoo  building,  which 
was  just  large  enough  to  hold  himself  and  bed,  and  in 
which  few  could  stand  upright.  With  this  apartment  he 
was  contented.  A  dish  of  rice  and  vegetables,  dressed 
after  the  manner  of  the  natives,  was  what  he  could  always 
sit  cheerfully  down  to  ;  and  a  piece  of  dimity  dyed  black, 
and  other  materials  of  the  same  homely  sort,  sufficed  him 
for  an  annual  supply  of  clothing.  Thus  easily  provided 
as  to  temporalities,  his  only  care  was  to  do  the  work  of 
an  evangelist," 


NEW    ORDER    OF    MISSIONARIES.  59 

This  course  not  only  prevented  many  of  the  hindrances 
which  a  different  style  of  living  would  present,  but  it 
arrested  the  attention  of  all  who  knew  him,  and  went 
far  towards  gaining  that  unbounded  confidence,  which,  it 
is  well  known,  was  reposed  in  him  by  all  classes  both  of 
Europeans,  and  natives  of  India.  Enough  has  been  said 
on  this  digressive  topic.  It  is  simply  added,  that  no  ex- 
pectation is  cherished  that  a  return  will  be  made  on  the 
part  of  modern  missionaries  to  the  details  of  the  course 
indicated  by  the  Saviour.  Yet  as  close  an  approxima- 
tion thereto  as  possible  should  be  attempted  ;  and  that 
approximation  should  be  made  visible  to  the  most  casual 
observer  among  the  heathen.  It  may  cost  the  beloved 
missionary  band  much  additional  self-denial,  and  they 
will  find  their  life  a  painful  one.  But  they  who  shall 
cheerfully  have  fellowship  in  the  privations  and  sufferings 
involved  in  the  first  commission,  will  win  a  crown  of 
higher  glory  than  would  be  the  result  of  a  course  less 
trying. 

The  third  objection  suggested  in  the  beginning  of  this 
chapter  was,  that  some  will  probably  say  that  that  func- 
tion which  contemplates  the  healing  of  the  sick  by  mis- 
sionaries, ceased  at  the  time  when  the  miraculous  power 
by  which  it  was  effected  was  withheld. 

To  give  the  objection  the  utmost  benefit  of  the  posi- 
tion, we  hazard  nothing  in  admitting  for  argument's  sake, 
that  were  there  no  reasons  derivable  from  the  intrinsic 
adaptation  of  such  a  procedure,  we  might  consent  to 
waive  any  considerations  drawn  from  the  command  itself; 
and  at  once  admit  that  it  was  only  intended  to  be  a  means 
for  the  use  of  the  first  missionaries. 


60  THOUGHTS    ON    A 

But  it  is  contended  that,  if  no  such  plan  had  ever  fallen 
from  the  lips  of  the  Saviour,  it  possesses  the  most  unique 
and  philosophical  elements  of  adaptation  to  the  work  in 
question,  and  hence  commends  itself  to  our  imitation. 
To  the  proof  of  this  it  shall  be  our  business  now  to  pre- 
sent a  few  thoughts. 

In  the  first  place,  it  will  be  proper  to  notice  somewhat 
in  detail,  one  particular  feature  of  the  difficulty  which 
attends  missionary  efforts  abroad  ;  namely,  the  total  want 
on  the  part  of  the  heathen,  of  those  elements  of  belief, 
education,  and  of  moral  character  that  would  enable  them 
to  understand  and  weigh  the  claims  of  Christianity.  This 
is  a  point  of  vital  importance,  and  should  never  be  lost 
sight  of  when  laying  plans  for  missionary  labor.  Were 
it  justly  appreciated,  the  toiling,  almost  disheartened  herald 
of  the  cross  would  have  more  sympathy  from  his  brethren 
at  home  ;  and  it  would  go  far  toward  accounting  for 
what  has  been  called  the  ill-success  of  christian  missions. 

Having  reached  some  heathen  shore  the  missionary 
finds  himself  among  a  people  who  from  time  immemorial 
have  been  sunk  to  the  lowest  depths  of  moral  and  intel- 
lectual wretchedness  ;  where  even  the  religious  teachers 
call  good  evil,  and  evil  good  ;  and*  "  to  lie,  steal,  cheat, 
deceive,  commit  adultery,  and  wallow  like  the  swine  in 
the  filth  of  moral  turpitude,  is  too  trifling  a  thing  to  be 
named,  it  is  only  what  their  gods  did  before  them." 

Where,  in  the  language  of  the  same  author,*  "  disin- 
terestedness and  gratitude  are  ideas,  to  express  which 
there  are  no  corresponding  terms  in  the  Indian  languages, 

*  Rev.  Hollis  Read,  pp.  4*3,  44. 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  61 

and  it  may  be  questioned  whether  any  such  ideas  exist 
in  a  native's  mind." 

Persons  educated  in  Christendom,  generally  have  the 
rudiments  of  true  religion  in  their  minds,  and  when  argu- 
ments in  regard  to  it  are  presented,  they  can  understand- 
ing^ examine  them.  Not  so  with  the  heathen.  They 
have  no  key,  to  unlock,  whenever  they  will,  the  door  of 
truth.  It  is  literally  true  that  they  have  eyes  but  cannot 
see.  This  painful  fact  meets  the  missionary  at  every 
turn.  It  pervades  his  entire  experience  of  heathenism. 
It  is  found  in  the  school-bungalow,  in  the  private  inter- 
course, in  the  public  assembly.  That  the  heathen  world 
is  preoccupied  by  idolatry  simply,  is  but  the  lesser  trou- 
ble. Could  he  but  see  the  cloud  of  stupidity  and  obtuse- 
ness  roll  away,  he  would  deem  a  great  portion  of  his 
trials  to  be  removed.  There  seem  to  be  no  general 
principles,  mutually  acknowledged,  upon  which  he  can 
meet  those  among  whom  he  labors.  What  is  virtue  to 
the  one,  is  vice  to  the  other. 

In  addition  to  this,  the  heathen  has  scarcely  ever  seen 
benevolence  embodied.  Generally  speaking  this  virtue 
has  no  existence  in  his  mind,  not  even  as  an  abstract 
theory.  Even  if  he  have  refined  upon  heathenism  gene- 
rally, and  cherish  a  fancied  notion  of  such  a  virtue,  he  is 
in  no  ways  disposed  to  believe  that  it  is  designed  to  be 
practised  by  common  mortals.  He  has  never  seen  the 
slightest  appearance  of  it  in  the  conduct  of  his  priests  ; 
and  no  mention  of  its  incarnation  is  made  in  his  religious 
books.  Even  the  deities  before  whose  shrine  he  daily 
bends  the  knee,  are  confessedly  cruel,  and  selfish.  Now, 
upon  such  persons  the  announcement  of  the  blessed  gos- 
6 


62  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

pel  has  but  little  effect.  They  cannot  appreciate  the  ar- 
guments of  the  preacher,  so  to  speak,  however  lucid  and 
simple  those  arguments  may  be.  And,  as  a  general 
thing,  they  will  not  honor  his  motives. 

Imagine  the  case  of  a  debauched,  selfish,  ignorant  man 
in  a  christian  country  ;  one  who  has  been  trained  in  the 
school  of  Atheism,  or  of  the  basest  system  which  can  be 
found  in  the  land  under  the  name  of  religion.  Imagine 
him  to  be  a  caviller,  and  never  to  have  been  thrown  into 
the  society  of  better  and  purer  spirits  than  himself.  Try 
to  argue  with  him  on  the  subject  of  pure  and  undefiled 
religion — on  the  claims  of  a  holy  law — on  the  blessedness 
of  a  life  of  benevolence — on  the  joy  which  comes  from 
justification  by  faith — and  you  will  find  him  misunder- 
standing your  plainest  propositions  ;  and  evincing  a  stu- 
pidity disgraceful  to  humanity.  On  these  topics  there 
seems  to  be  a  moral  impossibility  of  convincing  his  under- 
standing ;  although  on  matters  of  business,  and  the  com- 
mon affairs  of  life  he  may  be  shrewd  and  discriminating. 
So  difficult  is  it  to  convince  this  description  of  persons, 
that,  by  common  consent,  they  are  generally  left  to  them- 
selves ;  and  seem  to  belong  to  that  class  before  whom 
we  are  commanded  not  to  "  throw  pearls."  In  such 
cases,  the  good  judge  of  human  nature  will,  instead  of 
arguing,  essay  to  cause  the  individual  to  feel  the  power 
of  a  pure  and  benevolent  example,  and  will  be  diligent  in 
seeking  occasions  in  which  he  may  perform  towards  him 
acts  of  disinterested  benevolence.  This  is  the  only  class 
of  arguments  he  seems  capable  of  appreciating. 

In  the  case  now  supposed,  is  faintly  illustrated  the  kind 
of  difficulties  under  consideration  ;  with  this  difference 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  63 

however,  that  it  is  impossible  for  persons  brought  up  in  a 
christian  country  so  completely  to  shut  out  the  rays  of 
true  light  as  to  sink  them  as  low  as  the  heathen.     That 

THERE  IS  ONE  GOD,  JUST  AND  HOLY  : and  ONE  SAVIOUR, 

even  Jesus  Christ:  are  truths  admitted  by  almost  every 
mind  in  Christendom  ;  and  to  most  persons  have  the 
nature  of  self-evident  propositions.  There  are  those  who 
pretend  a  disbelief  in  them,  but,  it  may  be  safely  affirmed 
that  such  is  but  pretence.  Go  to  the  vilest  brothel  of 
our  cities,  and  look  upon  its  guiltiest  inmate — and  when 
you  stand  beside  the  dying  bed  of  that  individual  you 
shall  hear  the  cry  to  God  for  mercy.  In  the  day  of  her 
health  no  one  would  have  supposed  that  she  knew  there 
was  a  God.  But  now,  she  not  only  seems  possessed  of 
this  elementary  truth  ;  but  in  the  fear  and  trembling  that 
seize  her,  evidence  the  most  positive  is  given  that  she 
has  a  knowledge  of  the  other  fundamental  doctrines  of 
the  gospel. 

Follow  the  proud  professed  Atheist  to  his  hour  of  dis- 
solution ;  and  if  he  have  had  his  birth  and  education  in  a 
land  of  gospel  privileges,  he  will  now  tremble  ;  for,  not- 
withstanding his  vaunted  disbelief,  the  simple  truths  al- 
luded to  flash  upon  his  mind,  and  give  the  lie  to  his  pro- 
fession. Think  we  that  he  was  born  and  nurtured  in  a 
christian  land,  and  no  idea  of  them  have  found  a  lodge- 
ment in  his  mind  ?  From  the  cradle  to  the  grave  has  no 
voice  whispered  them  in  his  ear  ?  Did  not  the  mother 
who  pressed  him  to  her  bosom  in  his  hours  of  childhood 
bid  him  offer  the  Lord's  prayer  ere  he  closed  his  eyes  in 
slumber  ?  Can  he  have  passed  thus  ignorant  through  all 
the  light,  positive  and  reflected,  that  issues  from  the  reli- 


64  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

gion  of  the  Bible  ?  No  :  it  is  impossible  ;  and  herein 
consists  the  difference  between  the  worst  person  in  Chris- 
tendom, and,  perhaps,  the  best  among  the  heathen.  The 
positions  granted  by  the  former  that,  there  is  one  God, 
just  and  holy  :  and  one  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ :  and  which 
it  is  necessary  should  be  appreciated  in  a  greater  or  less 
degree  in  order  to  successful  teaching  ;  are  doctrines 
new  and  startling  to  the  poor  heathen.  From  the  earliest 
buddings  of  mind,  and  with  all  the  teachings  of  his  cradle 
hours,  and  thence  to  manhood  and  old  age,  he  has  been 
led  to  seek  a  Saviour  in  human  merit  and  personal  inflic- 
tions ;  and  as  countless  as  the  waving  palm-trees  of  the 
forest  have  been  his  gods. 

The  preacher  in  a  land  of  christian  light,  howsoever 
dimly  that  light  may  have  shone,  is  in  comparatively  little 
danger  of  being  misunderstood  when  he  states  religious 
propositions  ;  and  he  is  signally  aided  in  the  presentation 
of  truth,  by  the  intuitive  perception,  on  the  part  of  his 
hearers,  of  his  nicer  shades  of  meaning.  This  advantage, 
of  such  paramount  importance,  the  missionary  possesses 
not.  On  the  contrary,  the  minds  he  would  affect  are  not 
the  "  blank  sheets  of  ignorance,  simply,  but  scribbled 
over  with  error." 

From  what  has  been  said,  it  is  not  denied  that  the 
heathen  have  a  moral  sense  :  and  that,  strictly  speaking, 
they  have  the  power  to  make  moral  distinctions  and 
weigh  moral  claims.  All  that  is  meant  is,  that,  they  are 
so  debased  by  sin3  and  so  blinded  by  a  bad  education, 
that  it  is  next  to  impossible  for  them,  on  the  principles  of 
mental  philosophy,  to  appreciate  the  common  and  simple 
axioms  of  the  gospel. 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  DO 

This  leads  us  to  notice  the  intrinsic  adaptation  to  these, 
difficulties,  of  the  plan  indicated  by  the  Saviour,  namely, 
that  of  healing  the  sick,  conjointly  with  preaching  the 
gospel. 

"  It  is  not  exegesis,"  says  a  missionary  who  has  toiled 
for  many  years  in  a  foreign  field,  "  it  is  not  exegesis,  it 
is  not  theology,  it  is  not  divinity,  it  is  not  law,  it  is  not 
precept  or  command,  which  the  heathen  need,  but  it  is 
the  gospel,  the  pure  gospel,  which  they  want  all  day  long. 
It  is  Christianity  embodied,  acted  out,  living,  breathing." 

This  short  extract,  coming  as  it  evidently  does,  warm 
from  the  heart  of  a  toil-worn  laborer,  speaks  a  world  of 
meaning.  With  an  anxious  impatience,  as  it  were,  he 
runs  over  the  catalogue  of  topics  that  are  within  the  min- 
isterial province  ;  but  sums  up  all  that  it  is  desirable  to 
exert,  in  behalf  of  the  wretched  heathen,  by  saying, 
that,  to  them,  Christianity  embodied  is  the  one  needful 
thing. 

Now,  it  may  be  apposite  to  ask, — can  there  be  a  more 
beautiful  and  obvious  "  embodying"  of  Christianity,  than 
that  of  a  missionary,  coining  from  a  distant  land,  to  ad- 
minister to  the  corporeal  and  spiritual  maladies  of  the 
heathen  ?  It  is  true,  there  would  be  no  greater  benevo- 
lence, strictly  considered,  in  such  a  course,  than  in  that 
pursued  by  the  simple  teacher  or  preacher  ;  and  both 
would  be  equally  entitled  to  approbation.  But  in  the 
case  of  the  medico-theologico  missionary,  a  part  of  his 
labors  are  such  as  to  be  appreciable  by  the  heathen. 
Good  done  to  their  bodies  they  cannot  fail  of  understand- 
ing. In  the  case  of  the  simple  preacher,  those  only  can 
prize  his  course  and  the  spirit  whence  it  emanated,  who 
6* 


66  tfrtduGHf s  on  I 

somewhat  understand  and  value  Christianity  ;  and  who 
have  confidence  in  the  existence  of  disinterested  benevo- 
lence. To  gain  its  wished  for  influence  over  the  heathen, 
true  religion  must  walk  forth  in  the  persons  of  her  repre- 
sentatives, doing  those  things  which  are  not  only  intrinsi- 
cally lovely  and  excellent,  but  those  which  shall  be  ap- 
preciable by  their  habits  of  reasoning,  and  by  the  univer- 
sal laws  of  common  sense.  Vivid  illustrations  of  the  pre- 
cepts and  genius  of  the  gospel  must  everywhere  appear  ; 
so  vivid  that  even  the  besotted  Sanyasi  shall  not  mistake 
its  true  nature. 

This  is  a  point  of  fundamental  importance,  and  may 
be  pursued  a  little  further. 

"  Love,  esteem,  and  sincere  respect  arise,"  says 
Combe,  "  by  the  Creator's  laws,  from  contemplating  the 
display  of  benevolence."  This  remark  is  philosophically 
just,  founded  upon  the  constitution  of  man's  moral  nature. 
It  is  true  of  all  men  in  every  land.  Of  the  heathen  as 
well  as  of  the  evangelized,  this  is  affirmable.  Go  where 
we  may,  the  exhibition  of  benevolence  will  make  its  way 
to  the  heart  of  the  many  ;  at  least  it  will  to  their  honest 
convictions.  This  exhibition,  be  it  borne  in  mind,  must 
be  made  in  a  manner  capable  of  being  understood. 
Maxims  and  precepts,  however  excellent,  impress  not  the 
mind  at  all,  compared  with  the  living,  breathing  personi- 
fication of  them.  The  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  as  it  is 
called,  might  have  been  pronounced  from  heaven  with 
all  the  imposing  circumstances  that  attended  the  giving 
of  Sinai's  law ;  and,  upon  the  page  of  inspiration  it  would 
appear  of  surpassing  excellence ;  but,  it  is  clothed  with 
tenfold  interest  when  by  faith  we  see  it  embodied  in  the 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  6K 

daily  conduct  of  the  Redeemer,  Its  incarnation  gives  to 
it  a  controlling  energy.  "  In  many  ways,"  says  Jacob 
Abbott,*  "  Jesus  Christ  plainly  showed  how  much  he 
expected  would  be  accomplished  by  the  moral  power  of 
the  mere  presence  and  manifestations  of  piety  in  the 
midst  of  a  world  lying  in  sin.  He  ordained  many  other 
modes  of  exerting  influence  to  spread  his  kingdom.  But 
they  all  depended  for  their  success,  in  a  great  measure, 
on  being  connected  with  this.  The  gospel  was  to  be 
preached  every  where,  but  its  practical  effects  upon  the 
lives  of  those  who  embraced  it,  were  to  give  power  to 
this  preaching."  ...  a  It  has  been  the  same  in  princi- 
ple ever  since  those  days.  The  efforts  which  have  been 
most  successful  in  bringing  men  to  repentance  and  salva- 
tion have  been,  not  those  connected  with  the  most  power- 
ful arguing,  the  most  distinguished  eloquence,  or  the 
most  adroit  manoeuvres  ;  but  those  which  have  origina- 
ted in,  and  have  been  sustained  by,  the  warmest  and 
most  devoted  piety."  .  .  .  The  same  author  in  another 
connexion  remarks  —  f "  Our  means  of  promoting  the 
spread  of  Christianity,  is  not  to  effect  triumphs  for  it  in 
debate,  but  to  spread  its  gentle  and  noiseless  influence. 
We  are  to  exhibit  it  in  our  lives,  we  are  to  explain,  and 
enforce,  and  exemplify  its  duties.  We  are  to  express 
(embody  ?)  its  principles,  and  gain,  by  every  means  in 
our  power,  an  influence  for  them  among  our  fellow-men. 
Thus  the  rigidity  of  argumentative  disputation  will  be  re- 
laxed, and  the  moral  influence  of  an  alluring  exhibition 
of  the  principles  and  duties  of  piety,  will  find  an  easy 
way  where  the  most  severe  and  scientific  theological  ar- 
*  The  Way  to  do  Good,  pp.  138,  139.  f  p.  337. 


68  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

guments  for  the  truth,  and  refutations  the  most  triumphant 
of  error,  would  find  every  access  barred  and  impreg- 
nable." 

These  remarks  are  in  harmony  with  the  principle  we 
wish  to  impress,  namely,  that  embodied  Christianity  is  to 
conquer  the  prejudices,  secure  the  good  will,  and,  by  the 
blessing  of  God,  lead  to  the  salvation  of  the  heathen. 
This  principle,  we  may  reverently  say,  had  great  weight 
in  bringing  the  blessed  Saviour  to  tabernacle  for  so  many 
wearisome  years  with  man.  His  example,  far  more 
than  his  precepts,  all  glorious  and  divine  as  they  are — 
have  power  over  the  human  mind. 

Obvious  benevolence  disarms  prejudice,  it  throws  a  ce- 
lestial halo  around  its  author,  and  from  the  natural  con- 
stitution of  the  mind  it  must  win  its  way  where  profound 
reasoning  might  fail  of  securing  even  the  attention. 

It  is  believed  that  in  no  way  could  the  first  missiona- 
ries have  so  manifestly  embodied  the  benevolent  nature 
of  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ,  as  by  a  resort  to  the  bed- 
side of  the  sick  and  neglected.  This  presented  a  vivid 
and  practical  contrast  to  the  conduct  of  the  unsympathizing 
teachers  of  false  religions.  It  was  an  argument  irresisti- 
ble and  controlling.  And  it  is  not  inconsistent  with  the 
laws  of  the  mind,  and  with  the  testimony  of  experience, 
as  we  have  shown,  to  suppose  that  a  similar  course  intro- 
duced by  modern  missionaries  among  the  heathen,  would 
lead  to  results  measurably  approaching  to  those  which 
marked  the  foreign  labors  of  the  infant  church.  Would 
it  not,  from  the  nature  of  the  case,  necessarily  command 
great  confidence  in  the  religion  whence  it  sprung  ?  And 
if  it  be  evident,  that  healing  the  sick  was  resorted  to  by 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  69 

the  Saviour  and  the  first  missionaries,  not  only  for  the 
peculiar  proof  it  gave  of  their  claims  upon  the  public 
mind,  but  as  the  most  vivid  illustration  of  benevolence 
within  their  reach,  may  not  the  same  course  now  be  pur- 
sued with  great  propriety  ?  Because  we  have  to  do  by 
natural  means  what  they  did  by  super-human,  is  no  rea- 
son why  we  should  not  follow  their  example  ;  if  it  be 
first  proved  that  the  act  is  a  desirable  one. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Our  plan  compared  with  that  generally  pursued  by  missionaries. 
Objections  to  scientific  lectures  as  a  means  of  evangelizing  the 
heathen. 

By  the  preceding  train  of  thought  no  invidious  or  dis- 
paraging comparison  is  intended  between  different  classes 
or  orders  of  missionaries.  Neither  is  it  designed  to  inti- 
mate that  the  highest  degree  of  benevolence  does  not, 
intrinsically  considered,  characterize  those  who  do  not 
heal  the  sick  in  conjunction  with  preaching  and  teaching. 
Lest  a  misunderstanding  should  arise — guarded  as  we 
have  endeavored  to  be — and  for  the  purpose  of  illustra- 
ting the  point  more  fully,  let  the  following  case  be  sup- 
posed. 

A  ship  from  America  casts  anchor  in  the  harbor  of 
Singapore,  having  on  board  two  missionaries  ;  the  one 
designing  to  pursue  his  labors  on  the  general  missionary 
plan ;  the  other  purposing  to  follow,  as  nearly  as  may  be, 
the  course  indicated  in  the  gospel  commission  ;  looking 
to  the  example  of  Gutzlaff  as  a  more  modern  pattern  of 
the  general  design.  After  landing,  proper  dwellings  are 
procured  for  their  residence.  They  soon  proceed  to 
their  first  duty,  that  of  learning  the  language  of  those  to 
whom  they  design  to  preach.  In  due  time  they  acquire 
a  sufficient  knowledge  of  this,  to  be  able  to  proclaim  in 
an  intelligent  manner,  the  simple  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ. 
During  the  period  that  has  intervened  between  their  land- 
ing, and  that  of  their  ability  to  preach,  the  medical  mis- 


THOUGHTS,  ETC.  71 

sionary,  by  "  redeeming  the  time,"  and  by  untiring  in- 
dustry, has  been  instrumental  in  healing  gratuitously 
many  diseased  natives,  men,  women,  and  children.  Not 
a  cottage  of  poverty  and  wretchedness  within  the  limits 
or  suburbs  of  Singapore,  but  has  been  cheered  by  his 
presence.  All  the  poor  know  him  as  their  friend  in  the 
hour  of  sickness  and  sorrow.  He  has  won  the  hearts  of 
many,  by  acts  of  kindness  which  they  could  well  under- 
stand. 

Hitherto  he  has  conversed  with  them,  mainly  through 
the  intervention  of  an  interpreter  ;  but  now  he  has  in  a 
great  degree  mastered  their  strange  speech,  and  he  begins 
to  preach,  more  publicly  and  systematically,  the  truths  of 
the  gospel.  What  effect,  it  is  earnestly  asked,  will  his 
previous  course  have,  in  commending  his  message  to  his 
hearers  ? 

In  the  first  place,  he  will  be  sure  of  having  numerous 
auditors.  And,  in  the  second  place,  he  will  be  listened 
to  with  a  firm  persuasion  on  the  part  of  the  hearers,  that 
the  preacher  is  a  man  of  a  higher  order  of  benevolence 
than  has  ever  before  fallen  under  their  notice. 

Taking  advantage  of  this  state  of  sentiment,  he  dis- 
tinctly advertises  them  that  the  course  he  has  pursued  is 
among  the  legitimate  fruits  of  the  religion  he  would  com- 
mend to  them.  That,  to  bless  all,  far  and  near,  rich 
and  poor,  bond  and  free,  without  money  and  without 
price,  is  its  grand  purpose. 

Who  does  not  see  that  this  is  a  train  of  argument,  as  it 
stands  connected  with  his  previous  philanthropic  labors, 
which  the  most  dark-minded  heathen  can  clearly  per- 
ceive and  understand  ?     No  power  of  logic,  simply,  nor 


72  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

captivating  eloquence,  nor  profound  classical  attainments, 
even  if  they  were  accompanied  by  a  warm  christian 
spirit,  could  for  a  moment  compare  for  effect  with  it.  And 
no  devices  of  their  priests  and  teachers  could  neutralize 
the  power  of  such  a  procedure.  They  would  be  led  in- 
stinctively to  institute  a  comparison  between  his  religion 
and  their  own.  Whether  or  not  to  the  advantage  of  the 
former  need  not  be  said. 

It  is  just,  now  to  turn  our  attention  for  a  moment  to  the 
other  missionary,  the  preacher,  simply.  For  the  purpose 
of  making  a  fair  case,  it  may  be  supposed  that  for  varied 
learning,  ardent  piety,  and  beauty  of  christian  character, 
no  man  can  claim  a  preeminence  over  him.  His  heart 
is  tenderly  and  sleeplessly  alive  to  the  woes  and  wretch- 
edness of  the  population  around  him. 

He  too  has  reached  the  period  in  which  he  can  pub- 
licly proclaim  the  message  of  salvation.  During  the 
time  since  he  landed  he  has  adorned  the  doctrines  of  the 
Saviour  by  a  life  of  exemplary,  exalted  piety.  Tender- 
ness of  heart,  simplicity  and  ingenuousness  of  manner,  a 
humble  mode  of  living,  and  an  evident  desire  to  do  good 
to  all  around,  have  won  him  many  personal  friends.  But 
he  has  had  few  means  of  evidencing,  beyond  the  domestic 
circle,  the  benevolence  of  his  heart,  and  the  influence  of 
his  religion  upon  himself.  He  now  essays  to  preach  in 
public  ;  but,  being  comparatively  a  stranger,  his  auditors 
are  few.  Few  are  the  hearts  that  are  moved  with  plea- 
sure when  he  mingles  with  them  as  their  teacher  and 
guide.  And,  although  his  closet  has  been  deluged  with 
tears,  so  to  speak,  for  their  salvation,  they  heed  him  not. 
As  a  general  fact,  they  have  but  little  confidence  that  his 


NEW    ORDER    OF    MISSIONARIES.  73 

life  is  better  than  that  of  their  own  priests ;  and  the  idea 
that  he  possesses  a  pure  and  disinterested  benevolence 
towards  them,  not  so  much  as  crosses  their  mind.  Thus 
he  toils  on,  amid  neglect  and  discouragement,  cheered 
only  by  contemplating  the  sure  word  of  promise  that 
points  to  a  day,  how  distant  he  knows  not,  in  which  the 
heathen  shall  turn  to  the  Lord. 

Let  us  mark  well  the  points  of  difference  in  the  illus- 
trations just  given.  The  medical  missionary  owes  his 
superiority  of  success  not  to  his  more  ardent  piety  or  to 
his  purer  benevolence ;  but  to  the  means  of  more  plainly 
and  palpably  embodying  the  spirit  of  the  true  faith. 

Another  feature  of  the  intrinsic  adaptation  of  our  plan, 
consists,  in  the  fact  that  man  is  ever  more  ready  to  listen  to 
the  spiritual  advice  of  those  from  whom  he  has  received 
temporal  favors  than  from  others.  Especially  is  this  true  if 
the  kindness  be  extended  to  its  object  in  the  hour  of  na- 
ture's darkness  and  extremity.  "The  sternest  man  will 
be  softened,"  says  a  celebrated  writer,  "  if  you  approach 
him  with  relief,  or  even  with  sympathy,  when  he  is  in 
sickness  or  pain."  If  we  would  win  an  obdurate  heart 
to  the  gospel,  an  act  of  positive,  appreciable  kindness, 
is  one  of  the  best  preparations  for  success.  Every  day's 
history  of  the  life  and  labors  of  the  Redeemer,  when  he 
tabernacled  among  men,  is  studded  all  over  with  proofs 
that  he  practised  upon  this  principle.  Judging  from  the 
inspired  record,  the  greater  part  of  his  time  must  have 
been  spent,  in  acts  of  mercy  that  related,  strictly  speaking, 
to  the  temporal  woes,  and  corporeal  ills  of  man.  Why 
was  this  ?  There  is  no  satisfactory  reason  for  it,  unless 
it  be  found  in  the  principle  under  discussion.  To  say 
7 


74  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

that  it  was  to  prove  by  the  miraculous  power  which  he 
exerted  in  his  acts  of  mercy,  that  he  wras  indeed  Him  of 
whom  the  prophets  spake,  is  not  sufficient.  One  grand 
display  of  omnipotent  energy  might  have  answered  that 
end  ;  and  that  display  might  have  been  of  an  equally 
unequivocal  nature,  and,  we  may  well  suppose,  more  as- 
tounding. Had  it  partaken  more  of  the  terrific,  it  might 
have  paralyzed  the  tongue  of  the  caviller;  and  made  the 
wretch  cower  who  in  the  pride  of  his  heart,  attempt- 
ed on  natural  principles,  to  account  for  the  miracles  he 
chose  to  perform.  It  would  have  been  as  easy  to  throw 
back  the  entire  course  of  nature  ;  and  to  write  in  letters 
of  blood  upon  every  door  post  in  Judea  the  fact  of  his 
Messiahship ;  and  to  have  come  to  earth  with  legions  of 
celestial  beings  to  impress  his  original  glory  upon  aston- 
ished mortals,  as  to  have  wrought  the  more  simple,  noise- 
less wonders  that  he  did.  This  would  not  only  have 
been  equally  easy  to  him;  but  it  would  have  cost  far  less 
of  that  watching,  fatigue  and  insult  which  followed  him 
throughout  his  entire  sojourn  on  earth.  But  he  chose  that 
class  of  miracles  which  should  be  appreciable  by  the  hum- 
bler order  of  minds  ;  which  no  sophistry  of  the  arch-ene- 
my should  be  capable  of  destroying ;  and  which,  from 
the  inherent  nature  of  the  case,  must  be  a  specific  pre- 
parative for  his  gospel. 

In  fine,  the  principle  under  discussion  is  universally 
and  instinctively  recognized  and  practised  upon.  It  is 
alike  the  handmaid  of  successful  nursery  teaching,  and 
of  homiletic  theology.  The  humblest  mother  knows  its 
power  in  leading  a  wayward  child  to  penitence  and  duty. 
A  roll  of  candy,  or  a  farthing  orange,  will  lure  a  child  to 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  75 

the  sabbath  school  when  thrice  the  pecuniary  value,  in 
the  shape  of  religious  tracts,  might  fail  of  doing  it.  It  is 
a  law  of  man's  nature  that  kindness  shall  gain  and  hold 
empire,  where  reason,  justice,  right,  cannot  prevail.  And 
by  a  refinement  of  human  wisdom,  as  strange  as  it  is  mel- 
ancholy, this  grand  element  of  success  has  been  subordi- 
nated to,  aye,  almost  buried  beneath,  the  technics  and 
lore  of  the  schools ! 

Our  foreign  missionaries  fully  apprehend  the  various 
difficulties  we  have  named  which  stand  in  the  way  of 
evangelizing  the  heathen.  To  arrest  their  attention  ;  to 
impress  them  with  the  superiority  of  the  christian  scheme  : 
to  win  them  to  a  candid  examination  of  the  burden  of 
their  embassy,  are  the  points  at  which  the  heralds  of  the 
cross  strenuously  and  anxiously  aim.  And  in  proportion 
to  their  greater  or  less  intimacy  with  the  complexity  and 
obstinacy  of  these  difficulties,  do  they  feel  discouraged. 

As  has  been  noticed  in  a  former  chapter,  a  moral  im- 
possibility seems  to  stand  between  the  presentation  of  the 
gospel  and  its  appreciation  by  the  heathen,  on  account  of 
ignorance  and  error,  and  the  absence  of  inbred  predilec- 
tions in  its  favor.  This  is  greatly  enhanced  by  the  prac- 
tical bearing  of  that  master-feature  of  Satan's  policy  which 
now  characterizes  his  designs  in  heathen  nations  ;  name- 
ly, to  lull  into  a  profound  sleep  on  the  subject  of  true  re- 
ligion the  mass  of  mind.  By  a  course  of  watchfulness 
and  subtlety — characteristic  of  the  source  whence  it 
came — the  arch  enemy  of  man  has  succeeded  in  engross- 
ing almost  the  entire  attention  of  the  idolatrous  world  in 
temporal  cares,  selfishness,  and  lust. 

Thus  circumstanced,  many  foreign  missionaries  have 


76  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

felt  the  need  of  a  resort  to  other  arguments  than  are 
found  in  preaching  the  gospel,  simply,  and  otherwise  teach- 
ing its  truths.  In  many  instances  they  have  had  recourse 
to  lectures  on  astronomy,  geography,  and  pneumatics. 
This  course,  it  should  not  be  denied,  has  often  received 
;the  meed  of  astonishment  and  respect  from  the  heathen 
literati ;  but  here,  as  we  apprehend,  the  effect  ceases. 
This  kind  of  argument,  from  its  nature,  cannot  affect  the 
heart.  There  is  not,  in  the  contemplation  of  the  natural 
sciences,  the  slightest  tendency  to  move  the  affections. 
If  it  have  any  moral  bearing,  it  is  to  create  pride  in  the 
bosom  of  the  possessor  of  scientific  acquirements;  and 
envy  in  him  who  sees  them  in  the  possession  of  another. 
It  is  very  questionable  whether  it  is  a  generous  mode  of 
acquiring  influence  over  the  heathen,  to  make  them  feel 
our  scientific  superiority.  At  all  events,  it  should  be  so 
done,  if  done  at  all,  as  to  make  the  keenness  of  a  sense 
of  inferiority  felt  lightly  by  them.  The  remark  which 
has  just  been  ventured,  as  to  the  moral  effects  of  con- 
templating any  or  all  of  the  natural  sciences,  is  only  in- 
tended to  apply  to  the  unregenerate.  This  should  be 
distinctly  understood  ;  and  it  should  be  further  borne  in 
mind,  that  in  the  nature  of  the  sciences  themselves,  so  to 
speak,  there  is  a  world  of  interest  and  beauty.  Alas ! 
for  the  violence  done  to  the  mental  constitution  by  sin, 
that  such  a  position  can  be  affirmed  as  has  now  been 
taken. 

But  while  this  melancholy  proposition  seems  tenable, 
in  reference  to  the  unregenerate,  the  converse  is  true  of 
the  regenerate, 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  77 

To  the  latter,  every  exhibition  of  science  tends  but  to 
humble  ;  and  to  raise  from  earthly  to  heavenly  contem- 
plations. And,  we  have  abundant  reason  to  presume, 
both  from  analogy  and  from  acquaintance  with  our  spirit- 
ual and  mental  organization,  that  our  future  being  will 
find  much  of  its  occupation  and  delight  in  the  pursuit  of 
true  science.  It  is  indeed  true,  blessed  be  God,  that  the 
cross,  will  be  the  grand  theme  of  the  Christian's  medita- 
tion, in  the  upper  world.  This  will  be  the  crowning  glo- 
ry of  all  that  he  shall  perceive.  Redemption,  will  be  the 
burden  of  his  song.  But,  in  expatiating  amid  the  ever 
evolving  exhibitions  of  the  Infinite  Wisdom,  as  age  after 
age,  they  shall  be  presented,  "  science"  truly  "so  called" 
will  necessarily  be  a  part  of  his  joyful  experience  ; — en- 
hanced immeasurably  by  the  all-pervading  consciousness, 
that  the  power  of  acquisition  and  enjoyment,  as  well  as 
the  means  for  its  gratification,  were  a  part  of  the  pur- 
chase of  Calvary. 

The  elements  of  his  song  will  not  consist  simply  in  his 
salvation  from  hell,  great  as  that  boon  will  appear;  but 
in  an  increased  apprehension  and  appreciation  of  God's 
wisdom  and  power  ;  and,  in  the  mercy  which  gave  him  a 
nature  capacitated  to  drink  in  their  manifestations. 

To  return,  we  may  justly  conclude  that,  an  investiga- 
tion and  love  of  the  natural  sciences,  is  not  incongenial  to 
the  believer  on  earth;  but  that  the  tendency  toward  such 
cannot  but  be  of  a  most  valuable  nature. 

Although  we  admit  thus  much,  we  are  constrained  to 
examine,  more  minutely,  the  other  view  with  which  this 
discussion  commenced.  And,  to  inquire  if  a  just  dis- 
crimination be  made  by  those  missionaries  who  resort   to 


78  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

the  course  under  consideration,  between  the  mental  ad- 
miration, and  the  salutary  moral  affection  which  they 
hope  shall  follow  this  procedure.  As  seems  to  us,  there 
lurks  a  specious  danger  here  ;  valuable,  intrinsically  con- 
sidered, as  true  science  is.  In  fact,  not  much  is  hazard- 
ed by  assuming  that,  as  a  means  of  humbling  the  sinner, 
and  of  leading  him,  in  an  evangelical  sense,  to  penitence 
and  faith  ;  the  course  in  hand  is  unwise,  and  obviously 
not  at  all  adapted  to  the  end. 

It  is  not  a  scriptural  mode ;  no  warrant  for  it,  that  we 
can  discover,  being  found  on  the  page  of  inspiration. 
Suppose  we  were  to  read  in  the  book  of  the  Acts  of  the 
Apostles  the  following  record,  purporting  to  be  an  ac- 
count of  the  measures  used  by  St.  Paul  and  his  compan- 
ion, while  on  a  tour  of  foreign  missionary  service.  "The 
pasha  of  Scutary,  a  learned  man,  visited  me  this  afternoon 
and  spent  from  three  to  four  hours  in  examining  the 
school,  the  philosophical  apparatus,  etc.  Several  of  the 
learned  effendis  accompanied  him.  He  seemed  deter- 
mined to  understand  every  thing ;  and  instead  of  looking 
on  with  a  vacant  stare,  as  is  generally  the  case  with  great 
Turks,  he  made  intelligent  inquiries,  and  endeavored  to 
ascertain  the  nature  and  use  of  whatever  came  under  his 
observation.  He  was  delighted  with  the  various  experi- 
ments made  by  John  with  the  air  pump  ;  and  from  a  few 
words  of  explanation  on  our  part,  he  would  in  almost 
every  instance  seize  hold  of  the  principle.  I  have  seldom 
seen  a  man  more  wide  awake.  But  the  electricity,  which 
we  afterwards  exhibited,  altogether  eluded  his  grasp.  I 
contrived  to  give  him  various  shocks  without  his  being  at 
all  aware  of  it  previously,  and  he  skipped  and  bounded 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  79 

about  the  room,  but  could  not  tell  whence  they  came,  or 
whither  they  went.  And  as  he  was  for  examining  every 
thing  with  his  own  hands,  in  order  to  assure  himself  there 
was  no  juggling  in  the  case,  he  met  with  knocking-down 
arguments  from  every  quarter,  to  the  great  amusement  of 
the  by-standers." 

Now,  if  this  were  recorded  of  Paul  and  his  companion, 
what  would  be  our  instinctive  impression  in  relation  to  it  ? 
Why,  that  by  some  singular  carelessness  it  had  become 
incorporated  into  the  annals  of  the  church.  It  would  be 
so  obviously  different  from  the  prevailing  tenor  of  the 
apostle's  labors,  that  it  would  be  deemed,  manifestly,  an 
interpolation.  We  could  not  at  all  bring  ourselves  to 
recognize  it  as  one  of  his  measures.  This  would  be  an 
instinctive  suggestion  of  our  reason  ;  and,  however  much 
might  justly  be  urged  in  favor  of  the  natural  sciences,  this 
impression  would  remain.  And  yet  this  extract  is  copied 
verbatim  (with  the  exception  of  exchanging  one  capital 
name  for  another)  from  an  official  missionary  journal  re- 
cently published. 

This  train  of  discussion  may  not  be  unworthy  of  fur- 
ther notice ;  and  we  will  suppose  that  a  modern  mission- 
ary should  lay  before  the  heathen  world,  an  accurate  and 
well-defined  knowledge  of  the  steam  engine  ;  with  a  clear 
view  of  the  philosophy  of  the  power  of  steam.  That  this 
information  is  desired  by  some  among  the  heathen  is  well 
known.  In  March,  1833,  Lord  William  Bentinck.  then 
a  resident  of  Calcutta,  received  an  application  from  a 
Rajah,  who  had  heard  that,  "  a  boat  had  been  sent  out 
from  England,  which  is  capable  of  being  navigated  from 
Calcutta  to  Benares  in  eight  days,  and  against  the  stream ;" 


80  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

that,  a  copy  or  epitome  of  the  boat  might  be  given  him, 
that  he  might  send  it  to  Gratior  with  an  explanation, 
showing  how  such  things,  incredible  to  others,  can  exist 
through  the  agency  of  British  knowledge  and  science." 

Supposing  that  a  missionary  had  seized  this  seemingly 
advantageous  opportunity  to  advance  the  spiritual  objects 
of  his  embassy  ;  and  had  communicated  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  the  rich  native  dignitary,  the  desired  know- 
ledge ;  what  possible  bearing  could  it  have  upon  th  e 
spiritual  welfare  of  the  heathen  ?  None  :  as  seems  to  us. 
It  might,  we  admit,  cause  our  intellectual  and  scientific 
attainments  to  be  more  respected;  and  it  might  create 
surprise  and  wonder.  Perhaps  it  would  lead  to  the  in- 
troduction of  similar  machinery  into  that  nation.  But,  as 
a  means  of  evangelizing  the  individual  who  sought  the 
information  ;  or,  with  any  show  of  directness  of  tendin 
to  that  end  ;  no  one  who  fully  understands  the  genius  of 
the  gospel  would  dream  of  its  being  appropriate. 

As  regards  China,  it  is  possible  the  position  last  ad- 
vanced may  not  be  so  tenable  as  of  most  other  heathen 
nations.  By  a  stroke  of  policy  on  the  part  of  the  Des- 
troyer, entirely  unique  and  unprecedented,  that  nation 
has  around  it  a  sort  of  cordon  du  mort,  which,  for  ages, 
has  frowned  upon  the  attempts  of  foreigners  to  penetrate 
the  interior,  and  mingle  with  its  people,  whether  for  pur- 
poses of  commerce,  research,  or  philanthropy.  Such  a 
case  may  afford  a  legitimate  field  for  the  plan  considered  ; 
and  oreat  honor  is  due  to  those  whose  efforts  are  now 
that  way  directed.  Still,  is  it  not  probable  that  even 
there,  it  would  be  better  to  leave  to  educated  laymen, 
those  plans  which  contemplated  the  extension  of  true  nat- 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  81 

ural  science,  and  the  education  of  the  heathen  youth? 
Leaving  to  the  ordained  missionary  those  duties  which 
more  immediately  pertain  to  the  ministerial  office. 

The  history  of  the  world  may  be  adduced  to  prove 
that  the  extension  of  the  knowledge  referred  to,  has  had 
little  to  do  in  aid  of  evangelical  religion.  The  brightest 
era  of  learning  was  that  in  which  the  least  pure  religion 
was  existent.  We  refer  to  the  period  just  anterior  to 
that  in  which  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  was  announced 
to  the  world  by  himself  and  his  successors.  An  incom- 
parable author,  (from  whom  it  were  almost  presumption 
to  dissent)  we  are  aware,  takes  a  different  view  of  this 
historical  fact ;  or  rather,  he  draws  a  different  inference 
from  it.  He  thinks,  that,  in  the  learning  of  that  age, 
there  was  a  sort  of  preparation  for  the  reception  of  the 
gospel.  But,  in  reply  to  that,  it  may  fairly  be  asked, 
whether  it  was  the  general  diffusion  of  knowledge  of  the 
nature  under  contemplation,  or  the  peculiar  simplicity 
that  marked  the  presentation  of  the  message,  and  the  ra- 
diant personification  of  its  spirit  in  the  persons  of  the 
apostles  and  their  leader,  that  was  the  secret  of  the  suc- 
cess of  the  gospel  at  that  time  ? 

This  question  may  be  tested  by  further  inquiring, 
whether  the  learned  of  that  age  as  quickly  yielded  to  the 
claims  of  Christianity,  as  did  those  of  different  intellectual 
standing  ? 

In  fact,  who  are  those  on  the  pages  of  the  past,  that 
have  seemed  the  most  readily  to  understand,  embrace, 
and  with  their  lives,  defend,  the  gospel  ?  Not  to  select 
illustrations  on  this  head,  we  will  instance  the  first  that 
come  to   mind ;  and  point  to  the  fastnesses  of  France, 


82  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

and  to  her  halls  of  learning  for  an  answer,  in  that  day 
when  the  unlearned  Waldenses  wandered  about  in  dens 
and  caves,  pursued  by  Louis  XIV  and  his  accomplished, 
erudite,  scientific  court,  with  a  hellish  cruelty. 

And  where  has  the  light  of  the  various  liberal  branches 
of  knowledge  shone  so  brightly,  as  in  Germany  ;  (that 
land  of  genius  !)  and  yet  where  has  Christianity  received  so 
subtle,  malignant  and  dangerous  an  attack  as  there  ?  The 
naturalism —  the  rationalism — the  supernaturalism — the 
blasphemous  doctrine  of  accommodation — of  that  nation  ; 
stand  out  in  sad  confirmation  of  the  principle  under  no- 
tice ;  for,  be  it  remembered,  they  had  their  origin  in  a 
period  of  the  most  profound  intellectual  attainments;  and 
were  the  result  of  "  a  vain  confidence  in  human  reason." 

And  if  science  have  a  tendency  to  lead  the  unregen- 
erate  to  the  Cross,  where  are  the  savans  of  France  now  ; 
and  where  were  ihey,  when,  in  the  capital  of  the  finest 
nation  of  Europe,  the  belief  and  worship  of  a  Deity  were 
solemnly  renounced  ;  and  a  prostitute  installed  as  god- 
dess ?  And,  when  all  the  institutions  which  had  their 
origin  in  the  christian  scheme,  were  trampled  beneath  the 
feet,  not  only  of  the  rabble,  but  of  the  better  orders  of 


men 


Most  earnestly  and  feelingly  do  we  deprecate  the 
charge  of  being  unfriendly  to  the  promulgation  (by  prop- 
er persons)  of  true  science.  In  itself  considered,  such 
knowledge  is  of  untold  value  ;  whether  it  relate  to  the 
practical  purposes  of  life,  or  to  its  tendency  to  expand  and 
elevate  the  mind.  And,  at  this  day  it  is  especially  val- 
uable ;  inasmuch  as  there  is  rife  in  community,  an  alarm- 
ing tendency  to  materialize  our  natures,  so  to  speak  ;— 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  83 

consequent  upon  the  unprecedented   ardor   with  which 
commerce,  and  other  secular  pursuits  are  followed. 

Nothing  has,  as  yet,  been  adventured,  in  our  remarks, 
touching  the  seductions  of  science.  This  feature  of  the 
subject  should  have  its  weight  in  our  present  investiga- 
tion. It  is  merely  hinted,  in  order  to  lead  the  reader  to 
pursue  a  point,  as  it  appears  to  us,  of  some  importance. 
The  heathen  literati — with  the  enthusiasm  and  fancy 
which  attach  to  the  minds  of  Orientals — may  crowd  the 
scientific  lectures  of  the  missionary,  and  greatly  desire 
his  society  ;  because,  in  the  new  ideas  which  the  mission- 
ary promulges,  they  find  great  mental  delight.  And, 
notwithstanding  all  this,  they  may  turn  with  hearty  dis- 
gust from  the  spiritual  advice  the  christian  minister  might 
attempt  to  impart.  And  thus,  much  valuable  time  of  the 
missionary  might  be  the  same  as  lost.  While  essaying  to 
gain  the  respect  of  the  learned  and  the  better  condition- 
ed ;  thousands  of  wretched,  ignorant,  dying  idolaters  are 
on  every  side;  to  whom,  it  may  be,  a  course  which 
should  palpably  embody  the  benevolence  of  the  gospel, 
would  prove  the  means  of  leading  to  the  Cross  !  Ah  ! 
let  there  be  on  the  banner  of  all  who  labor  for  souls  "  to 
the  Poor  the  gospel  is  preached."  If  there  is  a  choice, 
let  us  ever  begin  at  the  bottom  rather  than  at  the  top  of 
society,  when  we  institute  means  for  the  conversion  of  a 
community.  Too  long  have  we  pursued  a  mistaken  pol- 
icy in  this  respect.  We  have,  innocently  perhaps,  count- 
ed too  much  on  the  good-will  and  influence  of  those  who 
occupy  the  higher  seats  of  human  condition.  On  no 
page  of  our  inspired  directory  do  we  find  a  syllable  of 
precept  or  injunction ;  or  a  single  example  to  imitate  that 


84  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

we  should  make  such  a  distinction.  The  high  and  low  ; 
the  rich  and  poor  ;  the  bond  and  free,  all  were,  indis- 
criminately, the  objects  of  our  Saviour's  solicitude,  in- 
struction, and  companionship.  In  this  proposition,  we 
would  not  affect  an  agrarian  spirit.  A  difference  in 
worldly  circumstances  and  condition,  seems  to  be  a  ne- 
cessary element  of  our  probationary  state  ;  the  better  to 
facilitate  the  disciplinary  process,  to  which  fallen  humani- 
ty must  be  subjected,  or  fail  of  heaven.  But,  this  fact 
should  never  lead  us  even  to  desire  the  conversion  of  a 
rich  or  a  learned  man,  in  preference  to  a  poor  or  an  ig- 
norant one.  The  specious  reason  that,  the  former  would 
have  the  more  influence  in  doing  good,  is  not  enough  to 
excuse  such  a  feeling.  Our  business  is  to  know  no  dif- 
ference among  men,  of  the  nature  in  hand  ;  and  to  seek 
to  present,  as  seals  of  our  labor,  the  greatest  aggregate  of 
souls.  It  is  for  a  higher  than  we  to  make  "  elections." 
He  knows,  and  he  only,  who  shall  best  glorify  his  name, 
and  most  advance  his  cause. 

We  have  enlarged  too  freely,  perhaps,  upon  the  point 
last  discussed.  It  has  been  done  from  the  belief  that,  a 
wrong  sentiment  in  relation  to  it,  is  gaining  ground.  Is 
not  this  discernible,  faintly  at  least,  in  the  undue  prepon- 
derance it  receives  in  missionary  plans  and  labors  as  seen 
in  the  periodical  organs  of  the  Boards  ? 

Ever  let  it  be  borne  in  sacred  remembrance,  that,  the 
extreme  simplicity  of  the  gospel  message,  unconnected 
with  ougLht  that  will  be  as  a  scabbard  or  a  foil  to  its  naked 
power  ; — no  matter  how  valuable  that  foil  or  scabbard,  in 
itself  considered,  may  be — can,  alone  ensure  success  in 
attempts  to  spread  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  throughout 
the  world. 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  85 

What  has  been  said,  in  no  wise  refers  to  the  means  ex- 
erted and  contemplated  for  the  education  of  heathen 
youth,  with  a  view  to  their  ultimate  intellectual  elevation. 
That  object  is  at  once  laudable,  and  appropriate  at  the 
hands  of  enlightened  philanthropy.  But,  if  it  be  not 
desirable  that  such  efforts  be  entirely  left  to  philanthropic 
laymen  ;  it  seems  to  us  that  they  should  constitute  but 
a  small  portion  of  the  ordained  missionary's  labors.  They 
must  not  trench  upon  preaching  the  gospel,  even  under 
the  guise  that  such  pursuits  are,  in  themselves  consider- 
ed, of  a  valuable  nature.  In  the  fervid  climes  of  the 
East,  it  would  seem,  that  no  strength  can  be  spared  by 
the  herald  of  salvation,  to  attend  to  measures  which  do 
not  directly  manifest  the  spirit  of  the  gospel.  There 
is  exceedingly  great  danger  that  too  much  complexity 
and  machinery  shall  come  to  be  demanded  at  our  mis- 
sionary stations.  We  may,  by  degrees,  be  led  to  es- 
tablish as  a  principle,  that,  the  gospel  cannot  exert  its 
saving  power  over  the  heathen,  until  they  shall  have  be- 
come more  elevated  in  their  social  and  intellectual  con- 
dition. And,  that  a  human  process,  thus  to  speak, 
must  first  pass  upon  them,  before  the  truth  of  revelation 
can  exert  its  power.  This  sentiment,  happily,  is  not 
now  abroad  in  the  church.  But  our  subtle  antagonist 
must  be  well  watched ;  lest  by  our  overmuch  regard  to 
subordinate  good,  he  lead  us  from  apostolic  practice  ; 
which  was,  evidently,  the  simple  preaching  of  the  cross, 
and  vividly  embodying  the  benevolence  of  its  precepts. 
8 


CHAPTER  VII. 

The  kind  of  argument  universally  demanded  by  mankind,  before 
assent  will  be  yielded  to  any  innovation  upon  long  cherished  opin- 
ions and  customs.  Reasons  for  the  hope  that  the  heathen  nations 
are  on  the  eve  of  a  great  change.  Effect  of  healing  upon  the  pub- 
lic mind  in  the  Saviour's  time. 

Results,  not  processes,  are  demanded  by  the  majority 
of  mankind,  before  they  will  yield   assent  to  any  innova- 
tion upon  their  established  opinions  or  customs.     The 
former  is  an   appreciable  order  of  argument,  the  latter 
may  not  be.     There  is  in  the   world  much  less   respect 
for  theory  than  is  perhaps    generally   supposed.     The 
most   elaborate  piece  of  machinery,  designed  and  con- 
structed in  strict  subjection  to  the  laws  of  natural  science, 
will  find  but  few  who  will  place  much   confidence  in  its 
practical  worth,  while  it  remains  untried.     The  princi- 
ples of  its  organization  may  seem  well  adapted  to  its  pro- 
posed end,  and  although  no  point  of  doubt  can  be  defi- 
nitely expressed,  a  lurking  scepticism   obtains.     Indeed, 
it  is  this  which  has  universally  been   the   most  trying  an- 
tagonist that  men  of  original  mind  have   met.     But,  let 
theory  step  down  from  her  elevated  position,  and  lay  the 
elements  under  tribute,  and  the  results  at  once   convince. 
The    steam    engine,    by  forcing   the    ponderous    vessel 
against  wind  and  tide,  called   from  the  careless  boys  in 
the  street,  as  well  as  from  the  philosopher  in  his  study,  a 
spontaneous  and  simultaneous  testimony  of  praise.     This 


THOUGHTS,  ETC.  87 

is  a  trite  train  of  thought,  it  is  admitted  ;  but  it  may  be 
pertinent  to  our  subject. 

Not  only  does  this  well  known  principle  of  human  na- 
ture obtain  with  reference  to  the  natural  world,  but  it 
holds  empire  in  the  religious.  The  fruits  of  a  given  reli- 
gion will  be  the  standard  by  which  it  is  judged,  by  the 
majority  of  mankind  ;  both  of  the  ignorant  and  the 
learned,  the  evil  and  the  good.  The  theory  of  it  is  not 
so  much  cared  for.  If  the  fruits  be  evidently  of  a  sel- 
fish, impure  description,  disgust  will  fill  the  public  mind  ; 
and,  although  no  outward  tokens  of  this  disgust  may  for 
a  time  appear,  it  will  eventually  burst  forth  in  the  form 
of  infidelity,  and  the  sundering  of  all  ecclesiastical  ties. 
This  led  to  the  scenes  that  were  chronicled  of  France 
during  the  last  quarter  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

There  is  a  seeming  exception  to  this  law,  in  the  present 
state  of  idolatrous  nations.  It  should  appear,  according 
to  our  reasoning,  that  the  fruits  of  idolatry,  as  exhibited 
in  the  selfishness  and  abominations  of  their  most  devoted 
religionists,  would  lead  to  the  disruption  of  those  bonds 
which  heathenism  has  fastened  upon  its  victims.  It  ought 
to  appear  that  disgust  pervades  the  minds  of  the  many 
among  them.  We  are  not  afraid  to  venture  the  assump- 
tion that  such  a  feeling  does  really  and  extensively  exist 
throughout  the  entire  heathen  world.  It  is  by  no  means 
certain  that  the  nations  of  heathenism  are  not  on  the  eve 
of  important  religious  changes.  The  fact  that  no  definite 
appearances  to  favor  that  hope  are  thrown  out  on  the 
surface  of  society,  argues  nothing  against  such  a  position. 
All  great  revolutions  in  the  forms  and  modes  of  society, 
do  not  seem  to  the  superficial  observer,  to  have  their  pre- 


88  THOUGHTS    ON    A 

paratory  stages  ;  but  they  seem  to  be  sudden,  and  if  it 
be  allowable  so  to  speak,  extemporaneous.  But  the  more 
accurate  and  investigating  mind,  can  see  a  long  and  silent 
train  of  agencies  that  have  been  at  work  beneath  the  sur- 
face ;  so  subtle  that  they  have  been  almost  unheeded. 
Mind  after  mind  becomes  imperceptibly  affected  by  these 
agencies ;  until  by  degrees  they  inter-penetrate  the  mass. 
The  silence  and  subtlety  with  which  they  have  worked, 
have  kept  all  quiet ;  and  perhaps  before  a  word  is  uttered 
on  the  subject  the  entire  community  have  passed  private 
judgment  upon  whatever  may  be  the  matter  of  grievance. 
All  may  appear  fair  upon  the  surface  of  society,  as 
seemed  the  vine  clad  hill-side  of  Vesuvius  on  the  morn- 
ing before  the  pent  up  fire  leaped .  madly  from  its  bosom. 
And  yet  the  public  mind  may  burst  forth  in  volcanic  fury 
without  a  moment's  pre-admonition,  upheaving  the  sys- 
tems of  ages.  As  the  hour  of  crisis  draws  nigh,  a  living 
form  and  substance  is  given  to  what  has  been  so  long  but 
isolated  opinion.  The  development  of  the  crisis  may 
arise  from  various  providential  causes.  If  the  subject  be 
a  political  one,  the  immediate  agency  which  shall  goad  to 
revolution  may  be  a  fresh  instance  of  exaction  on  the 
part  of  the  civil  power  ;  if  it  be  a  religious  one,  the  in- 
tolerance of  a  spiritual  hierarchy. 

Its  mode  of  appearance  is  at  times  as  follows  : — Some 
one  or  more  individuals,  of  a  peculiar  temperament  ; 
urged  on  by  mixed  motives, — of  real  grievance  of  ambi^ 
tion,  and  of  virtue — rbecome  unusually  sensitive  under 
the  evils  they  feel  to  be  pressing  upon  them.  They  give 
a  bold  and  public  utterance  to  their  sentiments,  which 
draws  forth  the  displeasure  of  those  who  had  been  the 


NEW    ORDER    OF    MISSIONARIES.  89 

authors  of  the  burdens.  This  serves  but  to  urge  them 
on,  and  to  awaken  a  feeling  of  sympathy  on  the  part  of 
others  aggrieved.  The  feeling  spreads  with  strange  ra- 
pidity from  heart  to  heart,  until  what  was  yesterday  but 
the  unexpressed  and  private  sensation  of  individual  minds, 
becomes  acknowledged  public  sentiment.  It  runs  from 
individual  to  individual  ;  and  each  recognizes  in  the  tale 
of  hardship,  that  to  which  he  has  been  painfully  accus- 
tomed. A  thousand  and  a  thousand  times  has  he  felt 
the  burden  pressing  upon  him  ;  and  as  often  has  he 
thought  that  if  others  felt  as  he  did,  the  community  would 
rise  in  its  majesty  and  demand  a  change  ;  or  hurl  from 
the  seat  of  power  those  who  should  deny  it.  In  the 
manner  just  hinted,  this  feeling  of  the  many  becomes 
known  to  the  many  ;  and  then  has  arrived  a  crisis  which 
bids  defiance  to  the  civil  arm. 

The  simple,  wonder  at  the  result  before  them  ;  and 
can  see  no  cause  adequate  to  it,  either  in  the  instrumen- 
tality which  led  to  the  embodying  of  the  public  sentiment, 
or  in  any  new  specific  form  of  grievance.  And,  indeed, 
there  are  generally — may  we  not  say  universally  ? — no 
adequate  producing  causes  of  national  convulsion  and 
revolution,  unless  we  look  for  them  all  along  the  pathway 
of  the  past,  perhaps  for  centuries.  In  his  infinite  mercy, 
God  has  so  constituted  the  laws  which  govern  the  public 
mind  and  bind  the  social  compact,  that  no  ambitious 
spirit  can  "overturn  and  overturn"  the  nations  at  its 
pleasure.  It  is  his  revealed  prerogative  to  do  this. 
Were  it  otherwise,  our  world  would  be  a  vast  theatre  of 
change  and  confusion.  A  train  of  unobtrusive  causes, 
extending  beyond  the  precincts  of  a  single  generation, 
8* 


90  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

must  be  at  work  before  revolution  can  pass  upon  a  nation. 
The  tendencies  to  such  a  change  must  be  nursed  by  ages. 
The  crisis  may  be  sudden  and  unlooked  for  ;  but  could 
we  have  seen  the  secret  springs  that  moved  the  mass,  we 
might  have  predicted  the  result  with  absolute  certainty. 

May  we  not,  therefore,  venture  the  hope,  (is  expecta- 
tion too  strong  a  term  cl)  that,  although  no  striking  evi- 
dences to  that  effect  appear  on  the  surface  of  heathenism, 
it  is  on  the  eve  of  an  important  change  9 

We  are  strongly  inclined  to  this  hope,  from  the  proposi- 
tion we  assumed  at  the  commencement  of  this  chapter, 
namely,  that  the  results  of  a  given  system  of  religion,  are 
the  standard  by  which  it  will  be  publicly  judged.  The 
correctness  of  this  theory  is  much  strengthened,  by  the 
confidence  we  have  in  human  nature,  degraded,  down- 
trodden, and  besotted  as  it  is.  We  speak  not  of  the 
affections,  for  in  them  we  see  no  ray  of  encouragement. 
But  amid  all  the  degradations  of  fallen  humanity,  even  of 
their  lowest  forms,  we  find  some  trace  of  manhood  left. 
As  the  mouldering  ruins  of  Palmyra  tell  of  the  glory  of 
what  she  once  was,  so  is  there  left  in  the  human  consti- 
tution that  which  tells  of  an  alliance  with  the  Divinity. 
Else  why  the  restless  longing  of  the  deluded  heathen  to 
be  absorbed  into  the  divine  essence  after  death  ?  Why, — 
unless  there  be  an  instinct  of  nobleness  within, — will  they 
forego  all  earthly  joys,  and  undergo  the  tortures  of  the 
hook,  the  swing,  the  bed  of  sharpened  spikes,  and  the 
burning  pincers  ?  Why, — unless  there  be  a  longing  for 
posthumous  fame,  (that  sad  evidence  of  natural  noble- 
ness !)  will  they  build  the  proud  mausoleum,  costing  the 
wealth  of  a  province  ?     Why  rear  the  proud  pagoda,  and 


NEW  ORDER  OF    MISSIONARIES.  91 

the  battle-monument.  These  and  similar  promptings 
prove  that  there  is  manhood, — perverted  it  is  true — yet 
left  among  the  nations  of  idolatry. 

We  fully  believe  that  human  nature  will  there  arise 
at  no  distant  day,  and  assert  her  freedom  from  the  bonds 
of  delusion  ;  simply  on  the  ground  that  idolatry  too 
grossly  and  obviously  invades  the  province  of  common 
sense.  No  presumption  is  stronger  in  our  mind  than  this, 
that  a  warfare  is  constantly  going  on,  in  almost  every  hea- 
then bosom,  between  common  sense  and  idolatry.  It  is 
a  libel  upon  humanity  to  suppose,  that  any  course  of  edu- 
cation, or  bias  of  example,  can  so  utterly  dethrone  rea- 
son as  that  it  shall  not  clamor  loudly  against  the  doctrines 
and  practices  of  paganism.  This  hypothesis  is  founded 
upon  fair  premises,  and  it  should  not  be  discarded  because 
we  see  no  convulsive  throes  on  the  outside  of  pagan  so- 
ciety. As  we  have  already  urged,  great  quietness  may 
exist,  to  the  notice  of  a  superficial  observer,  while  another 
hour  may  witness  devastation  the  most  awful.  The  great 
magazine  of  electricity  in  the  heavens,  imperceptibly 
passes  through  its  process  of  being  filled  ;  until,  becom- 
ing surcharged,  it  bursts  in  terror  over  our  heads  ;  and 
man  and  beast  cower  beneath  the  vivid  flash  and  the 
tramping  thunder. 

Let  private  opinion  among  the  heathen  begin  to  speak 
out,  and  it  may  run  with  inconceivable  rapidity.  Our 
only  fear  is,  that  there  is  not  left  spirit  enough  to  fire  the 
train. 

We  rest,  then,  upon  our  original  proposition,  that  by 
the  fruits  of  a  given  religion  it  will  invariably  be  judged. 

This  principle  was  the  key-stone  of  the  Saviour's  sys- 


92  THOUGHTS    ON    A 

tern.  "  Do  men  gather  grapes  of  thorns,  or  figs  of  this- 
tles ?"  —  was  his  interrogatory.  He  thus  appealed  in 
proof  of  the  position  under  notice,  to  an  obvious  natural 
fact  ;  one  which  was  palpable  to  the  dullest  perception. 
"  For  the  tree  is  known  by  his  fruit" — he  further  affirmed. 
In  accordance  with  this,  he  told  the  group  that  listened 
to  him  on  the  mountain-side  ; — "  Let  your  light  so  shine 
before  men,  that  they  may  see  your  good  works,  and 
glorify  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven."  Here  it  is  laid 
down  as  an  axiom  ; — intended  to  be  of  universal  applica- 
tion, as  is  obvious  from  the  absence  of  any  qualifying  or 
limiting  contingency  ; — that  by  the  exhibition  of  good 
works  men  would  be  led  to  glorify  God,  or  in  other  words, 
to  become  Christians. 

Practising  upon  this,  the  Saviour  and  his  disciples 
made  their  appearance  abroad,  commencing  the  identical 
work  now  contemplated  to  be  finished  by  the  mission 
cause.  The  public  mind  saw  results  and  it  was  greatly 
affected.  In  proof  of  this  we  may,  among  the  many 
records,  notice  a  few. 

"  And  Jesus  went  about  all  Galilee,  teaching  in  their 
synagogues,  and  preaching  the  gospel  of  the  kingdom, 
and  healing  all  manner  of  sickness,  and  all  manner  of 
disease  among  the  people.  And  his  fame  went  through- 
out all  Syria  :  and  they  brought  unto  him  all  sick  people 
that  were  taken  with  divers  diseases  and  torments,  and 
those  which  were  possessed  with  devils,  and  those  which 
were  lunatic,  and  those  that  had  the  palsy  ;  and  he 
healed  them.  And  there  followed  him  great  multitudes 
of  people  from  Galilee,  and  from  Decapolis,  and  from 
Jerusalem,  and  from  Judea,  and  from  beyond  Jordan. 
Matt.  4:  23,  24,  25. 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  93 

"  And  great  multitudes  came  unto  him,  having  with  them 
those  that  were  lame,  blind,  dumb,  maimed,  and  many 
others,  etc.     Matt.  15:  30. 

"  And  when  they  could  not  come  unto  him  for  the  press, 
they  uncovered  the  roof  where  he  was  :  and  when  they 
had  broken  it  up,  they  let  down  the  bed  wherein  the  sick 
of  the  palsy  lay."     Mark  2:  4. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  quote  further  on  this  head.  All 
who  are  familiar  with  the  practice  of  Christ  and  his  apos- 
tles, have  been  struck  with  the  prominence  given  to  good 
works  as  a  means  of  spreading  the  true  faith.  We  have 
attempted  to  show  in  another  part  of  this  volume,  that 
the  reason  of  such  a  course  cannot  be  found  simply  in 
its  attestation  by  miracle  of  the  truth.  As  there  stated, 
perhaps  the  primary  object  was,  to  show  the  benevolent 
nature  of  Christianity,  as  contrasted  with  false  religions. 

We  now  come,  naturally,  to  modern  facts  ;  which 
show  that  the  healing  of  the  sick  in  heathen  nations 
arrests  attention,  and  calls  forth  gratitude  and  respect  on 
the  part  of  the  persons  benefited. 

The  facts  we  shall  now  present,  admit  of  no  very  reg- 
ular arrangement.  Some  of  them  may  not  appear  im- 
mediately applicable  to  our  main  design.  It  is  our  ob- 
ject, incidentally,  to  give  a  passing  view  of  the  state  of 
the  healing  art  among  some  of  the  heathen  nations.  This 
explanation  may  make  the  appropriateness  of  some  of 
our  extracts,  more  evident  than  it  otherwise  would  be. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Facts  and  opinions  favoring  our  plan,  from  China. 

The  facts  and  opinions  we  design  to  present  in  relation 
to  China  may,  perhaps,  be  appropriately  commenced  by 
an  extract  from  a  letter  to  the  author  from  Rev.  Mr. 
GutzlafT,  dated  Macao,  March  1836.  A  bird's-eye  view 
of  some  of  the  details  of  the  plan,  had  previously  been 
communicated  to  that  missionary.  His  opinion  is  as  fol- 
lows :  "  Your  plan  of  forming  young  men  for  the  service 
appears  to  me  most  excellent,  and  I  have  scarcely  to  add 
another  suggestion.  If  there  is  any  possibility  of  follow- 
ing it  up,  strain  every  nerve  to  realize  it."  In  another 
part  of  the  same  communication  the  following  sentiment 
is  expressed,  and  should  it  meet  the  eye  of  any  young 
men  willing  to  prepare  for  labor  in  the  interesting  regions 
to  which  it  refers,  a  direct  correspondence  with  Mr. 
GutzlafT  might  be  commenced  by  such  persons.  "  Since 
long"  continues  Mr.  G.  "  my  mind  has  been  deeply  im- 
pressed with  the  necessity  of  forming  a  missionary  station 
in  China  Proper  itself,  or  at  least  upon  one  of  the  Islands. 
My  heart  bleeds  when  I  turn  my  eyes  towards  Japan  and 
Korea  and  the  Loochoo  Islands.  As  long  as  we  had  no 
certain  conveyance  to  those  countries,  it  would  have 
been  in  vain  to  expatiate  upon  the  necessity  of  either 
forming  a  missionary  colony  or  founding  a  station.  But 
as  there  is  now  some  hope  of  seeing  out  a  missionary 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  95 

ship,  I  am  the  more  urgent  to  press  it  upon  your  mind 
to  advocate  your  plan  and  educate  pupils  purposely." 

We  will  now  continue  the  notice  of  facts  from  the 
same  source,  but  which  have  not  been  the  result  of  direct 
correspondence  with  the  author.  In  a  letter  to  P.  Perit, 
Esq.  of  New  York  he  gives  sketches  from  his  journal 
kept  on  a  tour  to  distant  places  in  China.  "  At  Hwan-oa. 
Disease  preys  every  where  upon  the  inhabitants.  Much 
arises  from  their  unclean  habits,  but  various  diseases  are 
epidemical.  They  are  excellent  patients,  for  they  take 
medicine  faithfully  how  nauseous  soever,  and  their  na- 
tures are  strong  enough  to  bear  a  strong  dose.  More- 
over, diseases  are  seldom  complicated,  and  they  therefore 
soon  recover,  and  but  few  will  die  under  the  hands  of  an 
European  physician." 

"'At  Lo-Kang.  It  was  now  high  time  to  do  something 
also  for  the  body,  and  the  applicants  for  medicines  were 
rather  clamorous,  as  some  former  patients  had  found  their 
way  hither,  and  given  good  testimony  to  my  healing  art. 
...  If  the  sick  people  were  not  too  boisterous,  and  only 
would  wait  till  every  one  was  regularly  served,  I  should 
perhaps  assist  a  great  many  ;  but  whilst  I  make  choice 
of  the  worst,  the  others  wont  give  me  time,  and  keep 
pulling  me  about  till  I  have  directed  my  attention  to  their 
wants,  etc." 

"  At  Yingling.  Here  I  am  well  known,  and  the  sick 
people  range  themselves  along  the  streets,  as  soon  as  the 
alarm  of  my  arrival  is  given.  Every  one  has  his  tale, 
his  kind  word  and  salutation." 

"  Whilst  standing  under  a  tree,  I  commenced  my  med- 
ical operations.     Many  an  individual  was  profuse  in  his 


96  THOUGHTS  ON    A 

gratitude,  and  some  offered  small  presents  which  I  refu- 
sed to  accept.  A  numerous  train  accompanied  me  to 
the  boat,  and  it  was  very  lucky  that  she  did  not  sink,  for 
the  crowd  around  it,  who  waded  up  to  the  neck  through 
the  water,  was  very  great." 

"  In  visiting  village  by  village,  hamlet  by  hamlet,  I 
met  with  the  most  affectionate  reception.  There  was 
not  a  hovel,  where  we  were  not  invited  to  stay  over  break- 
fast, and  partake  of  their  homely  fare." 

"  The  scene,  as  we  approached  Teen-tsin,  became 
very  lively.  Great  numbers  of  boats  and  junks,  almost 
blocking  up  the  passage,  and  crowds  of  people  on  shore, 
bespoke  a  place  of  considerable  trade.  After  experienc- 
ing much  difficulty  from  the  vessels  which  thronged  us  on 
every  side,  we,  at  length,  came  to  anchor  in  the  suburbs 
of  the  city,  in  a  line  with  several  junks  lately  arrived  from 
Soakah,  and  were  saluted  with  the  merry  peals  of  the 
gong.  I  had  been  accustomed  to  consider  myself  quite 
a  stranger  among  these  people,  and  was  therefore  surpri- 
sed to  see  the  eyes  of  many  of  them  immediately  fixed  on 
me.  My  skill  as  a  physician  was  soon  put  in  requisition. 
The  next  day,  while  passing  the  junk  on  my  way  to  the 
shore,  I  was  hailed  by  a  number  of  voices,  as  the  seen- 
sang — "  teacher,"  or  "  doctor ;"  and,  on  looking  around 
me,  I  saw  many  smiling  faces,  and  numerous  hands  stretch- 
ed out  to  invite  me  to  sit  down.  These  people  proved 
to  be  some  of  my  old  friends,  who,  a  long  time  before, 
had  received  medicines  and  books,— for  which  they  still 
seemed  very  grateful." — Giitzlaff^s  China,  p.  104. 

"  My  patients  had  now  become  so  numerous  as  to  en- 
gross all  my  attention  ;  from  very  early  in   the   morning 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  97 

till  late  at  night,  I  was  constantly  beset  by  them,  and  of- 
ten severely  tried.  Yet  I  had  frequent  opportunities  of 
making  known  to  them  the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  and 
of  pointing  out  the  way  of  eternal  life." — Ibid.  p.  108. 

"  In  a  few  days,  moreover,  the  whole  stock  of  medi- 
cines I  had  with  me  was  exhausted,  and  I  had  to  send 
away  with  regret,  those  poor  wretches,  who  really  stood 
in  want  of  assistance." — Ibid.  p.  109. 

"  At  Ta-koo  we  were  delayed  several  days,  waiting 
for  our  captain  and  one  of  the  passengers,  who  were  left 
behind.  While  at  this  place  1  was  invited  by  the  port 
master  to  dine  with  him  on  shore,  but  was  prevented  by 
the  inclemency  of  the  weather  ;  several  physicians,  also, 
came  on  board,  to  consult  with  me  concerning  difficult 
cases,  and  received  my  instructions  with  much  docility.' ' 
—Ibid.  p.  117. 

"  It  was  a  long  time  after  we  arived  at  Kin-chow  be- 
fore we  could  go  on  shore  on  account  of  the  high  sea.  It 
became  generally  known  among  the  inhabitants,  ere  I  had 
left  the  junk,  that  I  was  a  physician,  and  anxious  to  do 
good :  and  I  was,  therefore,  very  politely  invited  to  take 
up  my  residence  in  one  of  the  principal  mercantile  houses. 
It  was  midnight  when  we  arrived  on  shore,  and  found  a 
rich  entertainment  and  good  lodgings  provided.  The  next 
morning  crowds  thronged  to  see  me ;  and  patients  were 
more  numerous  than  I  had  any  where  else  found  them, 
and  this  because  they  have  among  themselves  no  doctors 
of  any  note.  I  went  immediately  to  work,  and  gained 
their  confidence  in  a  very  high  degree. — Ibid.  p.  118. 

"  It  very  soon   appeared  that  I  was  known  here  as   a 
missionary,  as  well  as  in  Siam  ;  and  hence  I  thought  it 
9 


98  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

my  duty  to  act  boldly,  but  at  the  same  time  with  pru- 
dence. Some  captains  and  pilots,  afflicted  either  with 
diseased  eyes,  or  with  rheumatism,  were  my  first  patients. 
They  lived  in  a  miserable  hovel  near  the  banks  of  the 
river,  and  were  preparing  to  smoke  the  "  delicious  drug," 
wrhen  I  entered,  and  upbraided  them  sharply  for  their 
licentiousness.  From  my  severe  remarks  on  their  con- 
duct, they  concluded,  that  I  had  some  remedy  for  the 
use  of  the  drug,  and  intimated  their  opinion  to  others. 
The  success  of  my  first  practice  gained  me  the  esteem 
and  friendship  of  a  whole  clan  or  tribe  of  the  Chinese, 
who  never  ceased  to  importune  me  to  cure  their  natural 
or  imaginary  physical  defects.  The  diseases  of  the  poor- 
er classes,  here,  seemed  as  numerous  as  in  any  part  of 
India.  They  generally  complained  of  the  unskilfulness 
of  their  doctors,  whose  blunders  I  had  frequently  to  cor- 
rect. Chinese  doctors  are,  usually,  unsuccessful  literati, 
or  persons  fond  of  study.  They  claim  the  title  of  doctor 
as  soon  as  they  have  read  a  number  of  books  on  the  sub- 
ject of  medicine,  without  showing  by  practice  that  they 
are  entitled  to  the  appellation.  Their  minute  examina- 
tion of  the  pulse,  which  is  frequently  very  correct,  gives 
them  some  claim  to  the  title  of  able  practitioners.  Anat- 
omy, a  correct  knowledge  of  which,  must  be  gained  from 
dissection,  the  Chinese  regard  as  founded  on  metaphysi- 
cal speculations,  and  not  in  truth.  Their  materia  medi- 
ca  is  confined  chiefly  to  herbs,  which  are  the  principal 
ingredients  of  their  prescriptions.  They  have  some  very 
excellent  plants,  but  injure  and  weaken  their  effect  by 
mixing  them  up  as  they  do, — often  sixty  or  seventy  in 
one  dose.     They  generally  fortell  the  precise  time  of  the 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  99 

patient's  restoration,  but  are  often  found  mistaken.  To 
stand  against  men  of  this  description,  who  are  so  very 
wise  in  their  own  imagination,  was  not  an  easy  task ;  but 
I  always  convinced  them,  by  facts,  that  our  theories,  when 
reduced  to  practice,  would  have  the  most  salutary  effect." 
— Gutzlaffs  Journal,  p.  181. 

"The  curiosity  to  see  me  was,  during  several  days, 
very  great  ;  and  the  captain's  anxiety  much  increased, 
when  he  saw  that  I  attracted  the  attention  of  so  many  in- 
dividuals. There  were  some,  who  even  muttered  that  I 
had  come  to  make  a  map  of  the  country,  in  order  to  be- 
come the  leader  in  a  premeditated  assault  on  the  empire. 
Yet  all  these  objections  were  soon  silenced,  when  I  open- 
ed my  medicine  chest,  and  with  a  liberal  hand  supplied 
every  applicant.  God,  in  his  mercy,  bestowed  a  blessing 
on  these  exertions,  and  gave  me  favor  in  the  eyes  of 
the  people.  Several  persons  of  rank  and  influence 
paid  me  frequent  visits,  and  held  long  conversations  with 
me.  They  were  polite  and  even  servile  in  their  man- 
ners. Their  inquiries,  most  of  them  trivial,  were  principally 
directed  to  Siam ;  and  their  remarks  concerning  Europe 
were  exceedingly  childish.  The  concourse  of  people 
became  so  great,  at  length,  that  I  was  obliged  to  hide  my- 
self."— Ibid.  p.  183. 

We  now  come  to  record  some  facts  relative  to  the 
benevolent  and  disinterested  labors  of  one,  whose  name 
will  go  down  to  posterity  with  honor ;  and  who  has  hap- 
pily illustrated  in  his  practice,  the  general  position  advo- 
cated in  this  volume.  The  extracts  are  from  the  Chinese 
Repository. 

"  Several  months  ago,  we  alluded  to  the  existence  of 


100  THOUGHTS   ON  A 

this  institution,  and  expressed  a  hope  that  we  might  ere 
long  lay  before  our  readers  some  account  of  its  opera- 
tions ;  but  at  that  time  we  were  not  aware  of  its  exten- 
sive usefulness,  nor  of  the  confidence  in  the  skill  of  its 
founder,  which  its  success  had  secured  among  the  native 
inhabitants.  The  Chinese  need  ocular  demonstration  of 
the  intelligence,  practical  skill,  and  kind  feelings  of  those 
who  come  to  their  shores  from  far.  They  have  trad 
proof  enough  of  their  enterprise  and  bold  daring  ;  and 
not  a  little  too  of  their  shrewdness  and  foresight  ;  but 
very  rarely  have  they  had  opportunity  to  witness  deeds 
of  charity  and  acts  of  benevolence.  Were  the  records 
that  are  on  high,  let  down  before  our  eyes,  what  dark 
scenes  would  they  disclose  !  Many  of  the  adventurers, 
who  first  penetrated  to  this  farther  east,  two  centuries 
ago,  were  as  reckless  and  cruel  as  they  were  bold  and 
intrepid.  An  honorable  commerce,  and  the  exercise  of 
christian  charity,  would  never,  we  apprehend,  have  closed 
against  foreigners  the  northern  ports  of  China,  or  those 
of  Japan.  We  allude  to  these  things  as  the  scenes  of 
other  times,  and  with  the  most  confident  expectation  that 
they  are  not  to  be  reacted.  In  this  opinion  we  are  con- 
firmed by  facts,  some  of  which  are  already  on  record* 
and  by  the  existence  of  such  institutions  as  that  which 
we  now  have  the  pleasure  of  noticing. 

We  would  remark  here,  that  it  was  in  answer  to  our 
own  earnest  solicitation  that  the  following  documents  were 
put  into  our  hands.  We  made  the  request  for  them  in 
the  full  belief  that  the  publication  of  such  facts  will  do 
good,  by  inciting  others  to  go  and  "  do  likewise."  We 
query  whether  the  modern  teachers  of  Christianity,  who 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  101 

have  gone  forth  to  the  desolate  places  of  the  earth,  have 
not  overlooked  too  much  the  bodily  infirmities  of  those 
whom  they  would  benefit.  The  conduct,  as  well  as  the 
precept  of  our  divine  Lord  is  very  full  on  this  point  ; 
he  not  only  taught  from  place  to  place,  but  "  he  went 
about  doing  good  ;"  he  not  only  healed  the  sick  and 
cured  the  lame,  but  u  unto  many  that  were  blind  he 
gave  sight  ;" — numerous  instances  are  specified  in  the 
brief  memoirs  which  we  have  of  his  public  ministry. 
There  is  a  luxury  in  doing  good  ;  there  is  an  unspeaka- 
ble pleasure  in  relieving  our  fellow-men  who  are  in  pov- 
erty and  distress. — The  founder  of  the  Ophthalmic  Hos- 
pital, has  commenced  a  noble  work  ;  and  while  we  thank 
him  for  kindly  furnishing  us  with  the  papers  which  we 
subjoin,  we  congratulate  him  on  account  of  the  success 
which  has  crowned  his  benevolent  efforts. — The  paper 
which  we  here  introduce  will  explain  the  origin  and  ob- 
ject of  the  Hospital.  It  was  written  about  a  year  ago, 
and  in  consequence  of  a  benefaction,  which  was  at  once 
most  commendable  on  the  part  of  the  donors  and  com- 
patible with  the  design  of  the  institution  in  behalf  of  which 
it  was  granted.     The  paper  is  as  follows  : — 

"  Having,  during  the  last  three  years,  received  from 
Mr.  Vachell,  Chaplain  to  the  British  Factory  in  China, 
the  amount  of  offerings  at  the  Communion  Table,  it 
seems  somewhat  incumbent  on  me  to  state  the  origin  and 
nature  of  the  Institution  to  which  this  money  has  been 
applied  ;  and  the  claim  it  has  on  the  good  will  and  assist- 
ance of  all  persons  anxious  to  alleviate  the  pressure  of 
bodily  infirmity,  to  which  we  are  liable,  more  especially 
in  a  country  possessing  few,  if  any,  of  those  Charitable 
9* 


102  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

Institutions  which  grace  so  much  our  own  more  civilized 
and  christian  land. 

"  In  the  year  1827,  on  joining  the  E.  I.  Company's 
establishment,  I  determined  to  devote  a  large  portion  of 
my  time,  and  such  medical  skill  as  education  and  much 
attention  to  the  duties  of  my  profession  had  made  my 
own,  to  the  cure  of  so  many  poor  Chinese  sufferers  of 
Macao  and  its  vicinity  as  came  in  my  way.  My  inten- 
tion was  to  receive  patients  laboring  under  every  species 
of  sickness,  but  principally  those  afflicted  with  "  diseases 
of  the  eyes,"  diseases  most  distressing  to  the  laboring 
classes,  amongst  whom  they  are  very  prevalent  ;  and 
from  which  the  utter  incapacity  of  native  practitioners 
denies  to  them  all  other  hope  of  relief. 

11  During  that  year  my  own  funds  supplied  the  neces- 
sary outlay.  Throughout  I  have  received  little  or  no 
professional  assistance.  In  1828  many  friends  who  had 
witnessed  the  success  of  my  exertions  in  the  preceding 
year,  and  had  become  aware  of  the  expenses  I  had  in- 
curred, came  forward  to  aid  in  the  support  of  a  more 
regular  infirmary,  which  I  proposed  to  establish,  and  put 
me  in  possession  of  means  to  provide  for  the  maintenance 
of  such  patients  as  I  found  it  necessary  to  keep  for  some 
time  under  my  care  ;  but  who,  depending  for  their  live- 
lihood on  daily  labor,  could  not  otherwise  have  reaped 
the  benefits  held  out  to  them. 

"  Thus  the  hospital  grew  up  upon  my  hands.  Confi- 
dence was  established  amongst  a  people  who  had  been 
accustomed  to  consider  foreigners  as  barbarians  incapable 
of  virtuous,  almost  of  human  feelings  ;  and  the  number 
of  my  inmates  was  regulated  only  by  the  limits  of  my 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  103 

accommodations.  Two  small  houses  have  been  rented 
at  Macao,  capable  of  receiving  about  forty  patients  : 
there  are  many  more  of  the  nature  of  out-patients,  such 
only  being  housed,  as,  coming  from  a  distance,  have  no 
friends  with  whom  they  can  reside. 

"  The  best  proof  which  can  be  offered  of  the  entire 
confidence  of  the  people  and  benefits  which  have  been 
conferred  on  them,  is  that,  since  the  commencement  of 
this  undertaking,  on  a  small  scale  in  1827,  to  the  present 
time,  about  4000  indigent  Chinese  have  been  relieved 
from  various  maladies  :  many  have  been  restored  to 
sight  :  more,  saved  from  impending  blindness,  resumed 
their  usual  occupations  ;  and  have  supported,  in  lieu  of 
remaining  a  burthen  on,  their  families. 

"  The  more  opulent  and  respectable  classes  of  Chinese 
have  in  the  last  three  years  added  their  names  to  the  list 
of  subscribers  ;  and  have  by  giving  the  hospital  the  sanc- 
tion of  their  support,  much  enlarged  the  circle  of  its  use- 
fulness. The  E.  I.  Company  has  written  of  it  in  terms 
of  approbation,  and  when  applied  to,  liberally  supplied  it 
with  medicines. 

"  Independently  of  the  practical  benefits  conferred  on 
suffering  humanity,  it  is  most  desirable  that  the  enlightened 
nation  to  which  I  belong  should  be  known  in  this  coun- 
try, as  possessing  other  characteristics  than  those  attach- 
ing to  us  solely  as  merchants  and  adventurers.  As  chari- 
tably anxious  to  relieve  the  distresses  of  our  fellow-crea- 
tures, we  may  be  remembered  when  the  record  of  our 
other  connections  with  China  has  passed  away. 

"  In  the  above  statement  nothing  is  farther  from  my 
wish  than  to  bring  forward,  and  dwell  with  complacency 


104  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

on  my  own  exertions  and  success.     No  more,  I  trust, 
has  been  said   than  was  necessary  to  exhibit  the  nature 
and  origin  of  the  Hospital  which  I  have  established,  and 
its  claim  to  the  aid  which  I  thankfully  acknowledge." 
Macao,  China.  T.  R.  C. 

"  Most  desirable  it  is,  we  would  loudly  reiterate,  that  en- 
lightened Britain,  and  the  no  less  aspiring  nation,  which  glo- 
ries in  the  relationship  of  having  the  same  blood  and  the  same 
speech  with  Britain,  should  be  known  in  this  country  as  pos- 
sessing other  characteristics  than  those  attaching  to  us  solely 
as  merchants  and  adventurers.  In  commerce  there  may 
be  rival  interests  ;  but  not  so  in  the  works  of  that  charity 
which  seeketh  not  her  own.  Every  one  who  has  wit- 
nessed the  success  of  the  infirmary  at  Macao,  will  concur, 
we  think,  in  the  following  testimony  ;  will  give  the  enter- 
prise his  approbation  ;  and  endeavor,  so  far  as  there  may 
be  opportunity,  to  enlarge  and  extend  its  operations. — 
We  are  allowed  to  quote  the  following  letter  with  the 
signature." 

"  I  have  this  day  visited  Mr.  Colledge's  Ophthalmic 
Infirmary,  and  having  witnessed  the  origin  of  the  under- 
taking, I  am  happy  to  bear  testimony  to  the  complete 
success  which  has  attended  the  zealous  exertions  of  this 
gentleman  in  behalf  of  the  suffering  poor  in  China. 

"  The  number  of  native  patients  amounting  to  about 
four  thousand,  who  during  the  last  five  years  have  sought 
aid  from  this  institution,  and  among  whom  many  have 
been  restored  to  sight,  and  others  relieved  from  almost  hope- 
less blindness,  is  an  honorable  proof  of  the  professional 
skill  of  its  founder,  and  of  the  confidence  which  he  has  in- 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  105 

spired  into  all  classes  of  the  Chinese.  To  Mr.  Colledge 
therefore  belongs  the  merit  of  having  established  by  aid 
of  voluntary  donation  the  first  institution  in  this  country 
for  the  relief  of  the  indigent  natives. 

"  I  cannot  close  these  observations  without  alluding  to 
the  honorable  testimony  that  has  been  at  various  times 
recorded  of  Mr.  Colledge's  professional  skill  and  abilities 
by  the  Select  Committee,  in  their  despatches  to  the 
Honorable  the  Court  of  Directors  of  the  East  India  Com- 
pany— both  at  the  period  when  he  was  first  selected  to 
fill  the  situation  of  surgeon  to  their  establishment  in 
China,  and  also  subsequently,  when  the  great  benefit  de- 
rived by  the  Chinese  suffering  poor  from  this  gentleman's 
professional  talent  and  benevolent  disposition,  has  been 
officially  brought  to  their  notice.  As  an  individual  who 
has  witnessed  the  beneficial  effects  of  Mr.  Colledge's 
medical  ability,  I  feel  the  greatest  gratification  in  thus 
bearing  testimony  to  his  merits,  both  as  a  surgeon  and 
a  philanthropist." 

(Signed)  W.  H.  C.  PLOWDEN, 

Chief  for  all  affairs  of  the  British  Nation  in  China* 

Macao,  26th  Sept.  ]  832. 

The  extract  which  now  follows,  is  from  the  pen  of  an 
able  correspondent  of  the  Repository,  a  resident  of  China. 
The  letters  which  he  gives,  as  having  been  received  by 
Mr.  Colledge  from  those  who  had  experienced  his  heal- 
ing benefits,  exhibit  the  gratitude  which  his  course  called 
forth  from  the  naturally  cold  and  stoical  Chinese.  The 
style  of  the  letters  may  offend  persons  of  exact  taste  ; 
but  we  are  not  responsible  for  its  Oriental  faults.     It 


106  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

may  be  well  enough  to  remark,  in  passing,  that  to  be  a 
blind  and  poor  man  in  China,  is  to  be  in  wretched  cir- 
cumstances indeed.  In  countries  where  the  religion  of 
the  Bible  has  shed  its  blessings,  the  comfortable  public 
asylum  opens  its  friendly  doors  to  those  who  are  poor. 
And  by  an  enterprise  of  wisdom  and  benevolence,  the 
blind  may  possess  the  means  of  mental  and  moral  culture. 
But  how  different  the  condition  of  the  sightless  poor  in 
the  lands  of  heathenism  !  No  public  bounty  offers  its 
blessings  to  him.  If  he  be  sick,  and  starving,  and  naked, 
and  homeless,  he  is  left  to  die  in  the  streets,  for  aught 
that  public  charity  cares.  And  the  wail  of  the  sufferer 
has  no  power  to  affect  the  private  heart,  unless  it  be  the 
heart  of  one  equally  poor,  which  has  itself  learned  sym- 
pathy in  the  school  of  suffering.  Countless  are  the  in- 
stances that  a  short  residence  in  the  East  will  present  to 
notice,  of  blind  and  diseased  beggars,  lying  by  the  road- 
side, in  the  last  stages  of  life  ;  uncared  for,  unpitied,  un- 
blessed. 'Tis  this  that  makes  blindness  a  state  of  great 
sorrow  ;  and  it  may  account  in  some  degree  for  the  sin- 
gularly encomiastic  expressions  in  the  following  letters. 

From  the  Chinese  Repository. 

"  Among  the  virtues  attendant  on  civilization,  the  most 
useful  and  amiable  is  benevolence  ;  for  within  its  influ- 
ence it  embraces  the  whole  human  species  :  whether  the 
sufferer  of  our  race  be  white  or  black,  a  free  man  or  a 
slave,  a  Jew  or  a  Mohammedan,  a  Christian  or  a  savage, 
it  is  ever  ready  to  administer  the  relief  that  may  be  within 
its  reach.  No  class  of  individuals  has  so  many  opportu- 
nities of  doing  good  as  that  of  the  medical  profession. 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  107 

A  skilful  and  experienced  surgeon  or  physician  is  every- 
where hailed  and  welcomed  by  suffering  humanity  as  the 
harbinger  of  hope  and  comfort.  As  a  philanthropist, 
he  respects  the  peculiar  opinions  of  all  parties,  and  there- 
fore is  at  peace  with  all.  His  whole  time,  attention,  and 
talents  are  devoted  to  the  service  of  such  of  his  fellow- 
creatures  as  are  laboring  under  any  of  the  many  '  ills  that 
flesh  is  heir  to.;  "  Such  is  the  appropriate  language 
with  which  the  author  of  the  pamphlet  before  us  intro- 
duces his  account  of  the  hospital.  And  in  the  same 
strains  he  adds  : — 

"  Its  founder,  T.  R.  Colledge,  Esq.,  was  appointed 
surgeon  to  the  British  Factory  in  China  in  1826,  and  the 
succeeding  year  commenced  administering  to  the  infirmi- 
ties of  such  indigent  natives  as  sought  his  assistance.  All 
sorts  of  distempers  now  came  under  his  investigation. 
But  soon  discovering  that  no  native  practitioner  could 
treat  diseases  of  the  eyes,  which  prevail  to  so  great  an 
extent  among  the  laboring  classes  of  Chinese,  he  deter- 
mined to  devote  his  skill  more  particularly  to  this  branch 
of  his  profession.  In  the  year  1828,  he  rented  apart- 
ments at  Macao  for  the  reception  of  such  patients  as  re- 
quired operations  for  the  recovery  of  their  sight.  This 
institution  became  the  topic  of  conversation  throughout 
the  province,  and  praises  and  thanks  were  heaped  upon 
its  proprietor  by  the  friends  and  families  of  those  who 
received  benefit,  as  well  as  by  the  individuals  themselves 
who  had  felt  his  'healing  hand,'  as  may  be  seen  by  the 
translation  of  a  few  of  the  many  Chinese  letters  expres- 
sive of  gratitude,  which  were  addressed  to  Mr.  C,  and 
which  are  annexed  to  this  work." 


108  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

Letter  I. — "  Note  of  thanks  from  Lew  Ake,  Lew 
Ahaou,  and  Kan  Awang  belonging  to  the  district  of 
Sinhwuy. 

"We  were  suffering  from  total  blindness,  and  could  not 
distinguish  day  from  night,  when  unexpectedly  we  heard 
of  the  benevolence  and  charity  of  the  skilful  English 
doctor,  whose  benefits  pervade  the  world,  who  liberally  dis- 
penses medicines,  and  supplies  board,  lodging,  and  every- 
thing complete.  We  came  on  purpose  to  be  near  his  heal- 
ing art,  and  happily  in  a  few  months  our  sight  has  been  re- 
stored to  us,  as  perfect  as  at  first.  WTe  are  deeply  impressed 
with  gratitude  for  the  doctor's  liberal  favors  ;  we  are  now 
returning  home,  and  prostrate  make  our  acknowledg- 
ments. We  do  not  know  when  we  shall  be  able  to  offer 
a  recompense.  We  can  only  express  our  hopes  that  the 
doctor  may  enjoy  happiness,  wealth  and  honors. 

"  Presented  at  the  bar  of  the  English  nation's  eminent 
doctor." 

Letter  II. — "  The  person  who  announces  his  fare- 
well, and  humbly  renders  thanks,  Tsang  Ale,  knocks 
head  and  twice  bows  before  the  presence  of  the  great 
physician,  teacher,  and  magnate. 

"  I,  in  youth,  had  an  affliction  of  my  eyes  and  both 
were  short  of  light  :  fortunately  it  occurred  that  you, 
Sir,  reached  this  land,  where  you  have  disclosed  the  able 
devices  of  your  mind,  and  used  your  skilful  hand.  You 
cut  off  a  bit  of  filmy  skin,  removed  the  bloodshot  root, 
pierced  the  reflecting  pupil,  and  extracted  the  green 
fluid  ;  you  swept  aside  the  clouds,  and  the  moon  was 
seen  as  a  gem   without  flaw.     You   spared  no  labor  nor 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  109 

trouble  ;  made  no  account  of  the  expense  of  the  medi- 
cines ;  both  kept  me  in  your  lodging-house,  and  gave 
me  rice  and  tea  ;  truly  it  is  what  neither  in  ancient  nor 
modern  times  has  ever  been. 

"  Now  my  eyes  are  gradually  brightening  ;  ten  thou- 
sand times  have  I  to  bow  for  your  favors,  and  to  wish, 
Sir,  that  heaven  may  send  down  on  you  a  hundred  things 
felicitous,  bestow  a  thousand  things  fortunate,  and  give 
longevity  and  riches,  with  splendor  and  affluence.  Res- 
pectfully is  this  raised  upwards  ! 

Letter  III. — "  My  daughter  was  this  year  afflicted 
with  a  disease  of  the  eyes,  by  which  they  were  imminently 
endangered  ;  many  means  were  resorted  to  for  a  cure  ; 
but  none  efficacious. 

"  I  afterwards  heard  that  the  English  nation's  great 
physician,  who  has  deeply  investigated  the  medical  art, 
from  feelings  of  benevolence  and  compassion,  gratuitously 
supplied  medicines,  and  that  all  his  operations  had  been 
attended  with  happy  effects.  Immediately  I  brought  my 
daughter  to  be  examined,  and  am  grateful  for  the  medi- 
cines which  were  bestowed. 

"  In  a  few  days  her  eyes  were  again  as  they  had  for- 
merly been.  I  humbly  reflect  that  my  daughter's  re- 
gaining her  sight  proceeds  from  the  vast  benevolence  of 
the  great  physician,  and  the  divine  merit  of  his  wonder- 
ful medicine. 

"  I  feel  deeply  indebted  for  her  perfect  recovery  ;  but 
being  very  poor,  I  have  no  means  of  offering  a  recom- 
pense. I  have  merely  prepared  some  variegated  crackers 
10 


110  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

to  manifest  my  respect.     In  speaking  of  his  meritorious 
virtue,  I  feel  endless  gratitude. 

Awan  respectfully  bows  (and  presents  this  note). 

Letter  IV. — "  I,  Kwo  Tingchang,  of  Heoshan  dis- 
trict, constantly  remained  seated  in  my  house,  unable  to 
distinguish  between  day  and  night,  or  to  perceive  the 
sweetness  or  bitterness  of  the  five  tastes,  because  of  the 
severity  and  long-standing  of  a  disease  of  my  eyes.  Sud- 
denly I  heard,  great  physician,  and  venerable  Sir,  that 
you  manifested  benevolence,  so  that  your  fame  has  spread 
extensively  over  the  four  seas,  and  that  many  men  with 
diseased  eyes  assembled  at  your  abode,  where  you 
dressed  and  operated  on  them,  until  in  a  few  months 
they  were  quite  cured,  and  as  clear-sighted  as  at  first. 
It  is  owing,  benevolent  Sir,  to  your  virtue,  w7hich  is  as 
illimitable  as  that  of  heaven  and  earth.  Respectfully  we 
wish  you  honor  and  felicity,  with  happiness  and  emolu- 
ment during  ten  thousand  years 

"  I,  Kw6  Tingchang,  with  a  thankful  heart  return  to 
my  village  ;  when  can  I  make  a  poor  return  for  your  good- 
ness? My  whole  family  is  grateful  for  your  favors ;  while 
with  leaping  and  joy  I  present  these  expressions  thereof. 
In  all  the  village  your  fame  will  spread.  With  gratitude 
this  is  presented  before  the  presence  of  the  great  physi- 
cian and  venerable  gentleman  to  be  glanced  at. 

11  Kwo  Tingchang  of  Heoshan  district  knocks  head 
bows,  and  gives  thanks. 

Letter  V. — "  We,  inhabitants  of  the  towns  and  vil- 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  Ill 

lages  in  several  districts,  have  relied  on  the  English  na- 
tion's surgeon,  Colledge,  for  the  relief  and  cure  of  dis- 
eases of  the  eyes.  Those  who  have  been  completely 
cured,  both  formerly  and  at  the  present  time,  who  pos- 
sess feelings  of  gratitude,  have  offered  presents  and  a 
recompense  of  money  ;  but  he  would  not  receive  a  can- 
dareen  or  a  cash. 

"  We  have  no  means  of  offering  a  recompense  ;  but 
have  united  in  presenting  bundles  of  crackers,  and  in 
playing  on  instruments  of  music,  in  front  of  his  house,  to 
return  thanks  for  his  vast  benevolence.  May  ten  thou- 
sand blessings  be  with  him. 

"  We  respectfully  write  this  that  he  may  be  previously 
informed." 

Imitating  the  noble  example  which  had  been  set  by 
Dr.  Colledge,  a  few  philanthropists,  formed  another  es- 
tablishment at  Canton  for  the  cure  of  the  indigent.  A 
notice  of  it  from  the  Chinese  Repository  is  subjoined. 
The  institution  is  still  in  operation.  In  a  recent  letter  to 
the  author  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Medhurst,  he  observes  in 
relation  to  the  labors  of  Dr.  Parker,  who  is  at  its  head  : — 
"  1  myself  was  witness  to  the  great  good  effected  by 
Dr.  P.  in  Canton  lately  ;  and  doubt  not  but  that  such  a 
silent  unostentatious  manner  of  doing  good,  will  be  highly 
instrumental  in  opening  a  way  for  the  spread  of  the  gos- 
pel in  China." 

Canton  Dispensary. 

"  Hitherto  we  have  not  spoken  of  this  establishment, 
but  should  do  wrong  at  this  time  to  pass  it  by  in  silence. 


112  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

In  1828,  the  next  year  after  the  Ophthalmic  Hospital 
was  established,  the  medical  gentlemen  of  Canton,  follow- 
ing up  the  example  set  them  at  Macao,  opened  a  Dispen- 
sary here,  and  made  it  accessible  to  poor  natives  of  every 
description.  From  that  to  the  present  time,  great  num- 
bers have  repaired  to  it,  and  medical  aid  has  been  ad- 
ministered to  them  gratuitously.  At  an  early  hour  in  the 
morning,  one  may  daily  witness  the  sick,  the  blind,  and 
the  lame — of  all  ages  and  both  sexes, — crowding  around 
the  doors  of  the  Dispensary.  We  have  seen  helpless 
children  brought  there  in  the  arms  of  their  nurses, — or 
more  commonly  lashed,  according  to  the  custom  of  the 
country,  upon  the  back  of  a  young  servant.  We  have 
seen  old,  blind,  decrepit  men,  j  with  staff  in  hand,'  led 
thither  by  their  little  grand-children  ;  whilst  others,  who 
were  in  better  circumstances,  were  brought  in  their  sedans. 
#        #  #  *  #  *  *        * 

"  We  might  easily  extend  this  notice  ;  but  we  have 
said  enough  for  our  purpose — enough  to  show  the  bene- 
ficial results  of  the  Dispensary,  and  to  refute  the  opinion 
that  natives  dare  not  trust  themselves  in  the  hands  of  for- 
eign practitioners,  and  the  equally  erroneous  idea  that,  if 
the  patient  dies,  the  benefactor  who  was  rendering  him 
every  aid  in  his  power,  shall  be  held  responsible  for  his 
life.  What  we  have  now  entered  on  record  concerning 
the  Ophthalmic  Hospital  at  Macao,  and  the  Dispensary 
in  Canton,  together  with  what  we  shall  add  on  a  subse- 
quent page  respecting  the  distribution  of  medicines  among 
the  inhabitants  along  the  coast  of  China,  will  both  war- 
rant and  encourage  a  continuation  and  extension  of  these 
benevolent  exertions,  and  at  the  same  time  excite  others 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  113 

to  follow  examples  so  worthy  of  imitation." — Chinese 
Repository. 

During  the  preparation  of  these  pages  an  interesting 
pamphlet  has  reached  us  from  China,  giving  increased 
evidence  that  our  plan  is  calculated  to  gain  the  favor  of 
the  philanthropic  in  India.  It  well  claims  a  place  on  our 
pages. 

Suggestions  for  the  formation  of  a  Medical  Missionary 
Society,  offered  to  the  consideration  of  all  christian 
nations,  more  especially  to  the  kindred  nations  of  Eng- 
land, and  the  United  States  of  America. 
"  Viewing  with  peculiar  interest  the  good  effects  that 
seem   likely  to  be  produced  by  medical  practice  among 
the  Chinese,  especially  as  tending  to  bring  about  a  more 
social   and  friendly  intercourse   between   them   and   for- 
eigners, as  well  as  to  diffuse   the  arts   and   sciences  of 
Europe  and  America,  and  in  the  end  introduce  the  gospel 
of  our  Saviour  in  place  of  the   pitiable  superstitions  by 
which  their   minds  are  now  governed,  we  have  resolved 
to  attempt  the   foundation  of  a  society  to  be  called  the 
'  Medical  Missionary  Society  in  China.' 

"  The  objects  we  have  in  view  in  the  foundation  of  a 
Society  of  this  description  are  : 

"  1st,  That  those  who  shall  come  out  as  medical  mis- 
sionaries to  China  may  find  here  those  to  whom  they  can 
apply  for  assistance  and  information,  on  their  first  arrival 
in  the  country. 

"  2d,  That  by  this  means  their  services  may  be  made 
immediately  available,  while,  at  the  same  time,  they  may 
be  put  in  the  way  of  learning  the  language  for  the  pur- 
10* 


114  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

pose  of  fitting  themselves  to  practice  in  parts  of  the  coun- 
try to  which  foreigners  have  not  hitherto  gained  free 
access. 

"  3d,  We  do  not  propose  to  appoint  individuals  to  the 
work,  but  to  receive  and  assist  the  medical  men  who  shall 
be  sent  out  by  Societies  formed  for  the  purpose  either  in 
England  or  America.  Being  acquainted  with  the  pecu- 
liarities of  the  case,  our  especial  desire  is  to  draw  atten- 
tion to  the  selection  of  men  of  suitable  qualifications. 

"  4th,  We  therefore  propose  to  receive  any  sums  of 
money  which  may  be  given  in  aid  of  this  object,  and  to 
disburse  them  as  shall  be  deemed  expedient,  until  the 
Society  be  formed,  so  that  the  labors  of  those  who  en- 
gage in  the  cause  shall  not  be  retarded. 

"  Individuals,  subscribing  fifty  dollars,  or  upwards,  in 
one  payment,  shall  be  considered  members  for  life  ;  or 
fifteen  dollars  annually,  members  during  the  period  of 
their  subscriptions. 

"  In  further  illustration  of  our  views  we  would  here  pre- 
mise, that  in  order  to  the  success  of  the  object  contempla- 
ted, those  who  engage  in  it  must  not  receive  any  pecuniary 
remuneration  ;  the  work  throughout  must  be,  and  appear 
to  be,  one  of  disinterested  benevolence.  It  is  indispensa- 
ble that  the  men  who  shall  conduct  the  institution  be  not 
only  masters  of  their  profession,  and  conciliating  in  their 
manners  towards  all  classes,  but  judicious  men — men 
thoroughly  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  genuine  piety,  ready 
to  endure  hardships,  and  to  sacrifice  personal  comfort, 
that  they  may  commend  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  and 
Saviour,  and  so  cooperate  in  its  introduction  among  the 
millions  of  this  partially  civilized  yet  '  mysterious1  and 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  115 

idolatrous  empire — men  willing  to  suffer  the  loss  of  all 
things  for  joys  that  await  those  who/or  Christ's  sake  do 
good  on  earth. 

11  In  addition  to  the  Ophthalmic  Hospital  already  es- 
tablished, other  departments  are  equally  needed,  and 
each  would  fully  occupy  the  time  and  talents  of  one 
medical  person.     Among  these  may  be  mentioned, 

A  Surgical  department,  for  the  treatment  of  cases  re- 
quiring the  interposition  of  the  surgeon,  as  the  removal  of 
tumors,  cure  of  ulcers,  reduction  of  fractured  and  dislo- 
cated limbs,  and  the  like. 

A  Department  for  the  ear.  A  vast  amount  of  good 
may  be  effected  by  curing  the  affections  of  this  organ, 
which  perhaps  are  as  numerous  as  those  of  the  eyes,  or 
even  more  so.  The  man  who  shall  publish  a  treatise  in 
Chinese,  accompanied  by  a  statement  of  facts,  that  shall 
correct  the  pernicious  practice  of  barbers  who  introduce 
a  sharp  cutting  instrument  into  the  ear,  by  which  violence 
is  frequently  done  to  this  delicate  organ,  will  deserve  well 
of  the  Chinese  nation,  for  it  is  a  national  evil. 

A  Department  for  cutaneous  affections.  In  no  coun- 
,try  in  the  world,  are  diseases  of  this  class  more  numerous 
and  aggravated  ;  and  added  to  the  misfortune  of  being 
thus  afflicted,  if  the  disease  of  the  sufferer  is  suspected  to 
be  malignant  and  contagious,  he  is  liable  to  be  deprived 
of  his  liberty,  and  immured  during  the  remainder  of  life. 

A  Department  for  diseases  of  females.  Daily  experi- 
ence has  disclosed  that  these  are  very  numerous,  and  in 
some  instances  exceedingly  aggravated,  and  but  little  un- 
derstood by  Chinese  physicians.  And  contrary  to  ex- 
pectation,  facts  have   demonstrated  that  the  seclusion, 


116  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

characteristic  of  the  upper  classes  of  Chinese  females, 
does  not  restrain  them  from  applying  to  foreign  practi- 
tioners with  the  hope  of  relief  from  these  calamities. 

A  Department  for  the  diseases  of  children.  An  incon- 
ceivable amount  of  suffering  is  endured  by  children  in 
China,  which  in  many  instances  might  be  avoided,  but 
for  the  ignorance  of  parents  and  want  of  medical  aid  and 
advice.  The  merchants  from  distant  provinces,  who  trade 
at  Canton,  are  often  attended  by  members  of  their  fami- 
lies, and  frequently  have  brought  their  children  for  medi- 
cal treatment.  We  cannot  suppose  the  fond  parent  will 
remain  insensible  to  the  obligations  of  gratitude  when  he 
returns  to  his  own  home,  or  fail  to  speak  there  of  the 
excluded  foreigner  who  had  gratuitously  restored  his  child 
to  the  blessings  of  health.  We  conceive  there  cannot  be 
a  more  direct  avenue  to  influence  than  will  be  presented 
in  this  department,  and  the  impression  may  be  far  more 
enduring  than  that  made  in  almost  any  other  way  :  for 
while  in  the  case  of  the  aged,  who  receive  medicine  from 
the  foreigner,  the  remembrance  may  quickly  depart  with 
them  ;  it  may  be  otherwise  in  respect  to  the  babe  and 
the  youth,  who  are,  by  the  hand  of  charity,  rescued  from 
a  premature  grave,  or  from  diseases  which  uncontrolled 
might  extend  through  life. 

"  Regarding  it  desirable  that  these  several  departments 
be  established  as  soon  as  Providence  shall  prepare  the 
way,  and  the  men  and  means  are  provided,  we  would 
also  recommend  to  Societies,  while  they  are  sending  out 
medical  persons,  not  to  neglect  to  encourage  pious  and 
well-disposed  young  men  to  accompany  them,  with  a 
view  to  becoming  dressers  and  apothecaries,  and  to  ren- 


NEW    ORDER    OF    MISSIONARIES.  117 

der  themselves  useful  in  the  supervision  of  the  internal 
concerns  of  the  hospitals. 

"  Here  it  may  be  proper  to  repeat,  and  with  the  utmost 
emphasis,  that  all  who  engage  in  this  work  should  be 
judicious  men,  thoroughly  imbued  with  the  spirit  of 
true  piety,  willing  to  endure  hardships  and  to  sacrifice 
personal  comforts. 

"  We  cannot  close  these  suggestions  without  adverting 
to  one  idea,  though  this  is  not  the  place  to  enlarge  upon 
it.  It  is  affecting  to  contemplate  this  empire,  embracing 
three  hundred  and  sixty  millions  of  souls,  where  almost 
all  the  light  of  true  science  is  unknown,  where  Chris- 
tianity has  scarcely  shed  one  genial  ray,  and  where  the 
theories  concerning  matter  and  mind,  creation  and  provi- 
dence, are  wofully  destitute  of  truth  ;  it  is  deeply  affec- 
ting to  see  the  multitudes  who  are  here  suffering  under 
maladies,  from  which  the  hand  of  charity  is  able  to  re- 
lieve them. 

"  Now  we  know  indeed  that  it  is  the  '  glorious  gospel 
of  the  blessed  God'  only  that  can  set  free  the  human 
mind,  and  that  it  is  only  when  enlightened  in  the  true 
knowledge  of  God  that  man  is  rendered  capable  of  rising 
to  his  true  intellectual  elevation  ;  but  while  we  take  care 
to  give  this  truth  the  high  place  which  it  ought  ever  to 
hold,  we  should  beware  of  depreciating  other  truth.  All 
truth  is  of  God  ;  the  introduction  of  medical  truth  into 
China  would  be  the  demolition  of  much  error. 

"  In  the  vast  conflict  which  is  to  revolutionize  the  in- 
tellectual and  moral  world  we  may  not  underrate  the 
value  of  any  weapon.  As  a  means  then  to  waken  the 
dormant  mind  of  China,  may  we  not  place  a  high  value 


118  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

upon  medical  truth,  and  seek  its  introduction  with  good 
hope  of  its  becoming  the  handmaid  of  religious  truth  ? 
If  an  inquiry  after  truth  upon  any  subject  is  elicited,  is 
there  not  a  great  point  gained  ?  And  that  inquiry  after 
medical  truth  may  be  provoked,  there  is  good  reason  to 
expect  :  for,  exclusive  as  China  is,  in  all  her  systems, 
she  cannot  exclude  disease,  nor  shut  her  people  up  from 
the  desire  of  relief.  Does  not  then  the  finger  of  Provi- 
dence point  clearly  to  one  way  that  we  should  take  with 
the  people  of  China,  directing  us  to  seek  the  introduction 
of  the  remedies  for  sin  itself,  by  the  same  door  through 
which  we  convey  those  which  are  designed  to  mitigate 
or  remove  its  evils  ? 

"  Although  medical  truth  cannot  restore  the  sick  and 
afflicted  to  the  favor  of  God  ;  yet  perchance,  the  spirit 
of  inquiry  about  it,  once  awakened,  will  not  sleep  till  it 
inquires  after  the  Source  of  truth  ;  and  he  who  comes 
with  the  blessings  of  health  may  prove  an  angel  of  mercy 
to  point  to  the  Lamb  of  God. 

"  At  any  rate,  this  seems  the  only  open  door  ;  let  us 
enter  it.  Loathsome  disease  in  every  hopeless  form,  has 
uttered  her  cry  for  relief  from  every  corner  of  the  land  ; 
we  have  heard  it,  and  would  and  must  essay  its  healing. 
A  faith  that  worketh  not  may  wait  for  other  doors. 
None  can  deny  that  this  is  a  way  of  charity  that  worketh 
no  ill,  and  our  duty  to  walk  in  it  seems  plain  and  imper- 
ative. 

"  We  most  confidently  rely  on  the  aid  of  the  pious  and 
benevolent  in  the  accomplishment  of  this  great  work,  and 
when  the  millions  which  compose  this  mighty  empire 
shall  feel  the  influence  of  true  religion  and  civilization, 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  119 

when  the  light  of  Christianity  shall  take  the  place  of  the 
dark  cloud  of  Paganism,  which  now  envelopes  them,  then 
will  be  fulfilled,  in  its  spiritual  sense,  the  prophecy  of 
Isaiah  : 

"  '  The  eyes  of  the  blind  shall  be  opened,  and  the  ears 
of  the  deaf  shall  be  unstopped  ;  the  lame  shall  leap  as  an 
hart,  and  the  tongue  of  the  dumb  sing.'  " 

Thomas  R.  Colledge, 
Peter  Parker, 
E.  C.  Bridgman. 
China,  Oct.  5,  1836. 

An  American  missionary  writing  from  China  to  a  med- 
ical friend  in  the  United  States,  thus  remarks:  "You 
might  be  employed  here  in  Canton  as  usefully  as  ever  a 
man  was  in  the  relief  of  temporal  suffering.  There  are 
thousands  of  beggars  in  the  streets,  and  hundreds  of  them 
are  blind.  The  eyes  of  many  of  these  might  be  opened, 
and  a  large  portion  of  the  rest  might  be  cured  of  diseases 
brought  upon  them  by  exposure  and  the  filthiness  of  their 
habits.  I  sometimes  see  in  my  morning  walks  poor 
wretches  who  have  passed  the  night  in  the  open  streets, 
shivering  with  cold,  and  perhaps  just  ready  to  perish. 
Among  these  beggars  alone  a  physician  might  find  abun- 
dant employment.  I  doubt  whether  a  more  power- 
ful argument,  to  the  minds  of  the  Chinese,  could  be  fur- 
nished, than  a  physician  would  afford  by  giving  his  ser- 
vices to  these  and  other  sufferers  here.  I  feel  anxious  to 
have  something  of  this  kind  done,  that  the  benevolent 
spirit  of  our  religion  may  be  exhibited  in  such  a  manner 
that  the  eye  cannot  fail  to  see  it,  nor  the  heart  resist  its 


120  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

convincing  power.  Probably  every  other  city  in  this  part 
of  the  world  presents  an  equal  proportion  of  suffering, 
which  might  be  removed  by  a  well-educated  physician 
and  surgeon.  What  opportunities  would  be  obtained  by 
a  physician  to  circulate  tracts  and  do  good  to  souls  among 
this  reading  people,  you  cannot  fail  to  observe." 

In  proof  of  the  correctness  of  the  general  reasoning  in 
this  volume  it  is  a  pleasure  to  make  the  following  quota- 
tion. It  is  from  the  pen  of  a  resident  in  the  Eastern 
world  ; — a  writer  of  much  power. 

"  To  furnish  fruits  is  a  proof  of  the  excellency  of  the 
gospel,  and  an  efficacious  mode  of  convincing  unbelievers. 
A  missionary  station  ought  to  have  a  hospital,  and  a  phy- 
sician : — this  is  apostolical.  If  the  bodily  misery  which 
prevails  throughout  China  is  taken  into  consideration,  this 
is  perhaps  a  sine  qua  non  of  a  station  ;  and  it  might  be 
well  to  commence  soon  at  Canton.  But  it  should  not  be 
deemed  sufficient  to  afford  medical  help  merely,  for  which 
there  will  be  many  applicants  ;  a  lively  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  individuals,  kind  assistance  in  the  hour  of  need, 
or  a  friendly  word  under  sufferings,  open  the  heart  for 
the  reception  of  truth.  By  imitating  our  Saviour  and 
his  apostles  in  well-doing,  we  sliall  prove  our  claim  to  be 
called  his  disciples.  It  is  a  matter  of  joy  that  some  phy- 
sicians are  on  the  point  of  joining  in  the  good  work.  But 
it  should  never  be  forgotten,  that  it  is  the  most  sacred 
duty  of  all  to  alleviate  sufferings,  and  thus  to  show  that 
the  gospel  is  indeed  a  message  of  mercy.  To  do  this, 
requires  few  directions  ;  if  we  love  the  Chinese,  and  this 
is  a  prerequisite  in  a  missionary  to  this  people,  we  shall 
show  the  works  of  love,  and  be  unwearied  in  convincing 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  121 

them  that  we  are  actuated  by  the  spirit  of  love.  It  is  by 
the  irresistible  power  of  this  noble  quality  that  we  hope 
to  gain  ground  ;  if  we  have  it  not,  Paul's  remarks  to  the 
Corinthians  (1  Cor.  ch.  13)  apply  to  us." 

In  concluding  this  chapter  on  China,  it  may  be  well  to 
observe,  that  the  native  medical  practitioners,  although  a 
numerous  body,  are  exceedingly  ignorant  of  their  profes- 
sion. They  possess  no  knowledge  of  anatomy  ;  which 
leads  to  serious  results.  Indeed,  surgical  operations  are 
seldom  resorted  to,  except  those  of  the  very  simplest  de- 
scription. Their  physiological  theory  is,  that  the  body  is 
composed  of  the  five  elements,  wood,  water,  fire,  metal, 
earth  ;  and  they  suppose  the  cause  of  disease  to  be  the 
loss  of  equilibrium  of  these  in  the  system. 


11 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Facts   and   opinions   continued,  —  from   Ceylon, — Siam, — Orissa, — 
Sumatra, — Java, — Society  Islands, — Burmah, — The  Deccan. 

In  answer  to  some  interrogatories  in  relation  to  the 
general  plan  under  notice,  the  Rev.  M.  Winslow  for 
many  years  a  missionary  in  Ceylon,  addressed  the  follow- 
ing answers  to  the  author,  under  date  of  July  6,  1835. 

1.  "  What  is  the  state  of  the  medical  profession  in 
Ceylon  ? — There  are,  as  you  doubtless  know,  English 
surgeons  connected  with  the  army,  and  at  English  settle- 
ments in  the  East,  They  are  generally  respectable  as 
surgeons  and  some  of  them  as  physicians.  But  your  in- 
quiries refer  to  the  natives.  There  are  native  doctors, 
probably,  in  all  parts  of  the  country  who  have  some  know- 
ledge of  drugs,  and  of  vegetable  remedies  ;  and  succeed 
in  the  common  fevers  and  other  diseases  of  the  country, 
pretty  well.  They,  however,  impose  very  much  on  the 
people  in  the  price  of  their  medicines,  and  give  generally 
almost  every  kind  for  any  one  disease.  They  seem  to 
suppose  that  the  greater  variety  they  give  the  greater 
will  be  the  probability  that  some  one  will  hit  right  !  As 
to  surgery,  most  of  them  have  no  instruments  at  all,  and 
no  knowledge  of  the  subject.  Midwifery  is  attended  to 
only  by  women,  and  there  is  great  mismanagement,  which 
is  the  occasion  of  many  deaths.  The  missionaries  in 
different  places  are  often  called  to  render  such  aid  as 
they   can  on  these  occasions.     They   havealso  applica- 


THOUGHTS,  ETC.  123 

tions  frequently  to  set  a  broken  limb,  a  broken  arm,  to 
bleed,  etc.  The  native  doctors  give  their  prescriptions 
according  to  rules  in  their  ancient  books,  written  in  poetry 
and  wholly  arbitrary. 

2.  Do  the  natives  suffer  greatly  from  diseases  of  body, 
that  could  be  cured,  under  God,  by  skilful  physicians  ? — 
They  do  :  particularly,  as  may  be  inferred  from  the  last 
answer,  in  surgical  cases.  I  have  seen  several  instances 
where  a  broken  bone,  not  set,  was  healed,  and  either  not 
united  or  badly  joined.  Great  numbers  die  for  want  of 
a  little  timely  aid  in  medicine  or  surgery.  The  missiona- 
ries doubtless  save  many  lives  by  giving  now  and  then  a 
dose  of  medicine. 

3.  Would  not  pious  physicians  who  should  practise 
gratuitously  find  great  favor  in  the  eyes  of  the  heathen  ? — 
There  is  no  doubt  they  would,  almost  universally.  We 
have  always  had  in  our  mission  a  physician  who  could 
give  his  attentions  to  the  natives  gratuitously,  and  has, 
consequently,  done  great  good,  and  has  conciliated  much 
favor  for  the  mission. 

4.  Could  not  pious,  unmarried  physicians  get  a  decent 
subsistence  by  occasional  practice  among  the  wealthy  ? 
I  think  not  in  Ceylon  ;  though  it  is  possible  one  or  two 
might  in  the  capital  of  the  island  ;  especially  by  attend- 
ing to  the  descendants  of  Europeans  occasionally.  In 
larger  towns  on  the  Continent  it  might  be  done.  At 
Calcutta,  Madras,  and  probably  Bombay  a  r  espectable 
physician  could,  I  suppose,  get  practice  without  difficulty 
to  occupy  as  much  of  his  time  as  he  should  see  fit  to  de- 
vote to  it ; — the  same  would  probably  be  the  case  at  other 
large  places. 


124 


THOUGHTS    ON    A 


5.  What  is  the  native  opinion  as  to  the  medical  skill 
of  Europeans  ? — In  general  it  is  high — especially  as  to 
knowledge  of  surgery,  and  acute  diseases,  and  diseases 
of  the  blood. 

In  general  it  would  be  better  for  a  medical  man  to  at- 
tach himself  to  a  mission,  and  if  qualified  to  act  as  a  phy- 
sician both  to  the  bodies  and  the  souls  of  men,  he  would 
be  capable  of  conferring  on  those  around  him  a  double 
benefit.  Should  any  think  it  well  to  go  out  on  their  own 
account,  they  could  doubtless  do  much  good,  and  in  some 
places  would  be  able  to  support  themselves.  I  think 
there  is  now  a  loud  call  on  young  physicians  in  America 
to  come  forward  and  act  a  most  important  part  in  the 
conversion  of  the  world." 

In  Monthly  paper  No.  10  published  by  the  American 
Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  missions,  the  editor 
says,  concerning  efforts  in  Bankok  :  "  Imitating  their  di- 
vine Lord,  and  the  first  missionaries  of  the  Christian 
church,  Messrs.  Tomlin  and  Abeel  encouraged  the  dis- 
eased of  all  classes  to  resort  to  them,  and  exercised  upon 
them  such  gifts  of  healing  as  they  possessed  ;  using  the 
opportunities  afforded  them  by  the  numerous  persons  who 
applied  for  a  cure  of  their  diseased  bodies,  to  impart  a 
knowledge  of  divine  truth  to  the  still  more  diseased  and 
endangered  soul.  While  they  dealt  out  their  medicines, 
they  also  distributed  the  books  they  had  brought  for  the 
purpose." 

Of  Mr.  Gutzlaff's  labors  in  the  same  place  he  further 
remarks  :  "  Mr.  G's  knowledge  of  medicine  and  fluent 
use  of  the  native  tongue,  gained  him  easy  access  to  the 
palace,  etc." 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES. 


125 


In  concluding  the  Quarterly  Paper  whence  the  above 
extracts  are  made,  the  editor  remarks  :  "  Nor  does  the 
field  commend  itself  only  to  the  preachers  of  the  gospel  ; 
it  has  strong  claims  on  the  numerous  class  of  physicians 
in  our  country,  whose  gifts  of  healing,  though  by  no 
means  miraculous,  like  those  possessed  by  the  first  chris- 
tian missionaries,  yet  in  their  effects,  would  be  an  impor- 
tant substitute  for  them   throughout  the   eastern  world.'' 

Extract  of  a  letter  from  Rev.  Messrs.  Johnson  and 
Robinson,  dated  Bankok,  Sept.  3,  1834.  "Numbers 
call  almost  daily  for  books,  many  of  whom  are  priests. 
Our  medicines  too,  are  in  great  demand,  and  a  conside- 
rable portion  of  our  time  is  daily  occupied  in  administer- 
ing to  the  wants  of  the  afflicted.  We,  however,  by  this 
means  have  many  opportunities  to  point  them  to  the 
great  physician  of  souls,  by  tracts  and  otherwise  ;  and 
we  are  often  cheered  in  this  part  of  our  work  by  witness- 
ing the  gratitude  of  these  poor  pagans.  They  not  unfre- 
quently  bring  small  presents  of  eggs,  fruits,  sweetmeats, 
etc.,  though  they  know  the  books  and  medicines  are  gra- 
tuitous. 

From  the  Missionary  Herald,  June,  1836. 

Extracts  from  a  letter  of  Doct.  Bradley,  dated  at 
Bankok,  Oct.  23,  1835. 

Manner  of  Conducting  the  Dispensary.  —  Probably 
scarcely  any  thing  awakens  more  surprise,  or  is  more 
likely  to  impress  the  heathen  favorably  respecting 
Christianity,  than  the  sympathy  which  missionaries 
manifest  for  them  in  their  distresses,  and  the  pains 
which  they  take  to  relieve  them.  They  are  so  accus- 
tomed to  neglect  and  cruel  desertion  in  times  of  sickness 
11* 


126  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

and  want,  that  kind  words  and  compassionate  treatment 
in  their  sufferings  seem  to  them  something  more  than 
human. 

"I  arrived  here  on  the  18th  of  July.  After  fitting  up 
a  room  for  the  purpose,  a  dispensary  was  opened  on  the 
5th  of  August.  I  was  soon  an  object  of  sufficient  noto- 
riety. Patients  came  from  all  parts  of  the  city,  and  mul- 
tiplied exceedingly,  till  quickly  they  numbered  more  than 
a  hundred  daily.     My  plan  of  managing  them  was  this  : 

"  The  patients  were  received  in  the  morning  between 
the  hours  of  six  and  nine  o'clock.  Their  names,  with  all 
the  most  important  particulars  concerning  each,  were  en- 
tered on  a  book  in  the  order  in  which  they  came.  Then, 
instead  of  giving  each  a  card,  as  was  done  at  Singapore, 
slips  of  paper  were  given,  having  on  them  the  number  of 
each  individual,  and  the  appropriate  prescription.  These 
having  been  presented  to  the  apothecary,  and  having 
secured  the  treatment  directed,  they  were  enjoined  to 
keep  carefully  and  present  on  their  next  appearance,  as 
their  passport  to  further  attention.  If  any  one  presented 
himself  without  his  slip,  who  had  previously  received 
attention,  he  was  rejected,  at  least  for  one  day.  The 
cause  of  such  rejection  wras  always  understood  by  the 
bystanders,  and  thus  secured  much  carefulness  of  the 
little  papers.  Thus  it  was  not  necessary  to  lose  any 
time  in  calling  to  mind  what  course  of  practice  had  been 
taken  on  the  previous  visit  of  the  patient.  At  a  glance 
of  the  eye  it  could  all  be  seen,  and  in  a  moment  some 
tolerably  correct  estimate  could  be  formed  of  the  effects 
of  the  treatment  that  had  been  adopted.  When  covered 
on  one  side  these  papers — nung  sues  as  the  Siamese  call 
them,  are   put   away  in  order  and   preserved,  so  that  at 


NEW    ORDER    OF    MISSIONARIES.  127 

any  time  the  whole  treatment  of  a  case  may  be  gathered 
up  by  a  reference  to  the  numbers.  In  order  to  give  the 
earliest  patient  arrived,  the  earliest  attention,  and  thus 
encourage  punctuality  in  coming,  a  long  verandah  was 
fixed  with  permanent  seats,  which  were  so  arranged  that 
the  patients  must  almost  of  necessity  seat  themselves  in 
the  order  they  came.  Having  my  seat  at  one  end  of  the 
line,  the  end  next  to  the  door  of  the  dispensary,  and 
leaving  between  me  and  the  patients  a  passage  only  wide 
enough  to  admit  of  but  one  person,  none  were  allowed  to 
pass  but  such  as  had  come  under  my  direct  cognizance — 
none  were  treated  at  the  dispensary  but  such  as  came 
there  by  the  narrow  way.  When  treated,  the  patients 
retired  by  another  way  than  that  they  entered.  Think- 
ing that  but  a  small  object  would  be  gained  if  only  the 
temporal  diseases  of  the  patients  were  healed,  a  plan  was 
devised  by  which  it  was  hoped  their  precious  souls  might 
be  savingly  benefited.  The  plan  was  to  employ  natives 
in  reading  christian  tracts  and  portions  of  the  Scriptures 
in  the  hearing  of  those  patients  that  were  waiting  for  'the 
moving  of  the  waters  ;'  also  to  have  the  attending  physi- 
cian give  to  each  new  patient,  as  he  passed,  a  tract.  It 
required  much  less  effort  than  was  anticipated  to  main- 
tain good  order  and  silence  while  all  the  multiplied  opera- 
tions were  going  forward.  The  plan  worked  well.  Many 
a  time  there  were  large  audiences  of  attentive  hearers, 
which,  on  the  part  of  the  missionaries,  was  a  powerful 
excitement  to  prayer,  hope,  and  effort." 

"We  will  now  present  some  extracts  from  the  pen  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Abeel,  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church; 
and  recently  a  missionary  to  the  East. 


128  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

"  SiaMj  July  *25.  Since  our  arrival,  the  medical  de- 
pository has  been  a  scene  of  much  activity,  from  the  nu- 
merous calls  for  aid.  The  diseases  of  the  natives  are 
various  ;  many  of  them  brought  upon  themselves  by  their 
iniquities,  and  some  of  a  deep  and  desperate  malignity. 
Our  want  of  extensive  science  and  practice,  more  espe- 
cially my  own,. proves  rather  inconvenient  in  cases  of  a 
complicated  nature  ;  but  generally,  and  at  times  striking- 
ly, our  prescriptions  are  made  to  answer  the  desired 
end. 

"  31st.  To  day,  a  number  of  calls,  principally  for  medi- 
cine. One  of  the  applicants  was  a  Siamese  of  considera- 
ble distinction.  Another  did  not  come  himself,  but  sent 
his  servant  with  a  very  polite  letter.  The  former  evinced 
much  confidence  in  our  prescriptions,  and  could  scarcely 
be  prevented  from  giving  us  a  recompense.  The  utmost 
caution  is  necessary,  to  secure  the  confidence  of  the  na- 
tives, and  we  know  of  no  better  means  by  which  our  mo- 
tives and  object  may  be  known  and  commended,  than  by 
proving  that  we  act  upon  such  principles  of  disinterested- 
ness, as  they  have  never  seen  exemplified  before. 

"  The  medical  department,''  he  continues,  "  commenc- 
ed with  the  mission  is  well  adapted  to  the  place,  and  if 
filled  with  qualified  men  might  lead  to  the  most  desirable 
consequences.  It  is  calculated  to  give  influence  to  the 
person  if  successful  in  his  practice.  It  attracts  many  from 
different  and  distant  parts,  to  whom  we  could  otherwise 
have  no  possible  access.  It  affords  an  opportunity  of  in- 
structing those  who  come,  and  lays  them  under  such  ob- 
ligations as  can  be  employed  in  securing  both  their  atten- 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  129 

tion  to  your  remarks,  and  their  attendance  upon  the  es- 
tablished ordinances  of  religion 

"  Of  the  hundreds  of  physicians  who  take  their  diplo- 
mas every  year,  are  there  none  with  the  vows  of  God 
upon  them  ?  None  who  will  unite  in  a  work  so  glorious, 
and  where  their  services  are  so  much  needed  ?  In  many 
stations  they  can  accomplish  more  than  ordained  mission- 
aries. They  have  the  best  passports  to  the  dwellings,  and 
hearts  of  the  heathen — they  possess  a  magnet,  whose  at- 
traction gathers  crowds,  and  reaches  to  places  where  we 
can  never  penetrate.  While  they  can  accomplish  the 
most  important  part  of  a  missionary's  duties,  they  can  do 
it  under  much  greater  advantage  than  those  who  have 
not  their  knowledge.  Patients  feel  themselves  under  ob- 
ligations, and  are  disposed  to  comply  with  any  methods 
which  may  be  devised  for  their  spiritual  benefit.  Con- 
gregations have  been  thus  formed,  books  widely  distribu- 
ted, instrumentality  increased,  and  souls  saved  ;  besides, 
the  perishing  have  been  rescued  from  death,  the  suffering 
relieved,  and  the  hearts  of  those  who  would  have  been 
widowed  and  fatherless  made  to  sing  for  joy.  The  writer 
had  an  application  for  medical  aid  from  the  second 
king  in  Siam.  He  was  absent  at  the  time,  and  did  not 
return  until  after  the  death  of  the  king.  How  readily 
mighta  single  effort  in  such  instances  lead  to  the  most 
desirableresults." 

From  Sutton's  History  of  the  Orissa  Mission.  Speak- 
ing of  a  pilgrimage  that  came  under  his  notice,  that  mis- 
sionary remarks  :  "  In  the  year  1825,  the  writer  of  this 
article  attended,  and  witnessed  such  scenes  of  cruelty  and 
misery,  as  no  time  can  ever  obliterate  from  his  memory. 


130  THOUGHTS   ON  A 

In  one  small  space  of  ground  (about  an  acre)  he  counted 
upwards  of  one  hundred  and  forty  dead  bodies,  and  in 
another  place  ninety  ;  the  latter  especially  were  exposed 
close  by  the  highway,  on  each  side  of  it,  naked,  swollen, 
and  putrefying  in  the  open  face  of  day,  while  the  num- 
bers which  might  be  seen  in  other  places,  and  on  the 
road-side  far  from  Pooree  (the  place  whither  the  pilgrims 
were  bound)  defied  calculation.  Were  I  to  detail  facts 
which  came  under  my  observation,  of  husbands  losing 
their  wives,  wives  their  husbands,  parents  their  children, 
children  their  parents,  I  could  almost  fill  a  volume.  Let 
it  suffice  to  quote  the  concluding  language  of  a  journal 
written  on  that  occasion — 'We  have  relieved  many  a 
child  of  misery  by  administering  medicine  to  the  sick, 
etc' " 

The  pilgrimages  which  are  annually  made  in  India  to 
places  sacred  in  the  religion  of  the  heathen,  are  occasions 
of  the  most  appalling  suffering.  Poverty,  heat,  fatigue, 
anxiety,  added  to  the  gnawings  of  a  guilty  conscience, 
which  leads  them  to  undertake  these  works  of  penance ; 
combine  to  produce  this  misery.  How  priceless  are  such 
opportunities  for  the  itinerant  missionary  physician^  to 
join  the  pilgrim  band,  and  while  administering  to  the 
corporeal  maladies  of  the  sick  among  them,  point  the 
laden  soul  to  Jesus  !  It  is  difficult  to  restrain  the  emo- 
tions of  enthusiasm  while  fancying  the  night-fall  closing 
around  the  encampment  of  such  a  multitude  ;  and  the 
weary  missionary  going  from  group  to  group  to  heal  the 
sick,  and  to  tell  of  a  Saviour  "  mighty  to  save."  Such  a 
scene  would  indeed  be  like  those  which  were  wont  to  be 
witnessed  in  apostolic  days. 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  131 

From  Reynolds's  Voyage  round  the  World  in  the  U.  S. 
Ship  Potomac, — a  work  of  high  merit, — the  accompany- 
ing evidence  is  furnished  as  to  the  great  desire  on  the 
part  of  the  natives  of  Sumatra  for  European  medical  aid. 
11  Some  of  these  unfortunate  wretches,"  says  he  in  speak- 
ing of  the  Achenese,  "  are  afflicted  with  elephantiasis,  a 
dreadful  disease  in  which  the  skin  comes  off  in  flakes, 
and  the  flesh  falls  from  the  bones.  This  disease  being 
deemed  highly  infectious,  the  hopeless  sufferer  is  driven 
from  society  into  the  woods,  where  food  is  conveyed  to 
him  by  his  relations,  until  death  puts  a  termination  to  his 
misery.  They  (the  Achenese)  are  almost  totally  igno- 
rant of  the  science  of  medicine  or  surgery,  and  are  fre- 
quently annoying  in  their  solicitations  for  remedies  and 
medical  advice  ;  so  that  visitors  frequently  resort  to 
quackery  to  get  rid  of  their  importunities."  pp.  189, 
190. 

In  his  observations  about  the  early  inhabitants  of  the 
opposite  Island — Java — he  adds  :  "  But  whatever  might 
have  been  the  origin  of  the  inhabitants,  it  is  prettly  gen- 
erally conceded,  that  they  were  all  idolaters  until  about 
the  year  1370,  when  the  Arab  missionaries  came  among 
them,  and  commenced  the  work  of  conversion  with  their 
usual  zeal,  but  with  less  violence  than  had  heretofore 
marked  the  spread  of  the  Mohammedan  faith.  Theyp  os- 
sessed  a  knowledge  of  medicine,  which  enabled  them  to 
effect  several  cures  of  persons  of  high  rank,  as  well  as  many 
of  the  common  people,  of  dangerous  and  what  were  then 
considered  fatal  disorders.  This  gained  them  a  reputation 
for  superior  and  supernatural  attainments,  which  further- 
ed their  missionary  projects  to  the  extent  of  their  wishes." 
pp.  266,  267. 


132  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

From  Ellis's  Polynesian  Researches.  After  speaking 
at  length  of  the  low  state  of  medical  matters  in  the  Socie- 
ty Islands,  he  says  :  "However  great  the  influence  of  these 
persons  (natives)  who  administered  medicine,  or  practised 
surgery,  might  formerly  have  been,  it  has  entirely  ceased 
since  the  people  have  been  made  acquainted  with  the 
more  certain  and  efficacious  application  of  English  reme- 
dies. Like  the  priests  in  their  temple  formerly,  the 
minister  of  their  religion,  at  every  station,  is  now  sought 
in  all  cases  of  sickness  as  their  physician,  and  no  small 
portion  of  our  time  was  occupied  in  administering  medi- 
cine, so  far  as  our  scanty  means  would  admit.  This  is  a 
task  necessarily  devolving  upon  the  missionaries,  as  the 
only  Europeans  residing  among  them  either  possessing 
medicine,  or  knowing  how  to  use  it ;  and  it  is  a  claim 
which  we  never  desired  to  refuse.  It  is  perfectly  com- 
patible with  the  higher  duties  of  our  station — the  cure  of 
their  spiritual  maladies.  We  have  only  to  regret  that  we 
have  not  possessed  better  qualifications  and  more  ample 
means  for  its  efficient  discharge.  So  long  as  our  family 
medicine  has  lasted,  we  have  been  ready  to  share  it  with 
those  who  were  in  need,  and  have  often  been  thankful, 
(when  afflicted  ourselves  and  destitute)  to  receive  the  sim- 
ple remedies  they  were  able  to  supply.  The  Missionary 
Society  has  readily  furnished  us  with  medical  books  and 
instruments  ;  and  for  our  own  use  a  liberal  supply  of 
medicines,  but  it  has  generally  been  inadequate  to  the 
wants  of  the  people.  Medicine  is  expensive,  and  per- 
haps it  would  not  be  considered  a  just  appropriation  of 
the  Society's  funds  to  expend  them  in  providing  medicine 
for  those  among  whom  its  agents  labor;  yet  it  is  one  of 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  133 

the  most  affecting  sights  a  missionary  can  witness,  when 
visiting  his  people,  to  behold  them  enduring  the  most 
painful  suffering,  pining  under  the  influence  of  disease, 
and  perhaps  sinking  into  a  premature  grave,  and  to  know 
that,  if  he  had  the  means  within  his  reach,  he  could  at 

least  relieve  them The  occurrences  are  notun- 

frequent  wherein  an  anxious  mother  brings  a  poor  sickly 
child  to  his  house,  with  which  she  is  obliged  to  return 
unrelieved ;  not  because  the  disease  is  remediless,  but 
because  the  missionary  has  not,  it  may  be,  a  cheap  and 
simple  remedy  to  bestow.  The  natives  would  cheerfully 
purchase  so  valuable  an  article  as  medicine,  by  bartering 
in  the  islands  the  produce  of  their  labor  ;  but  they  have 
no  means  of  so  doing.  If  they  send  it  to  England,  the 
return  is  distant  and  uncertain  ;  and  mistakes,  embarrass- 
ing to  them,  are  likely  to  occur.  It  is  to  be  hoped,  how- 
ever, that  as  the  means  of  inter-communication  become 
more  frequent  and  regular,  these  difficulties  will  be  re- 
moved. Several  generous  individuals  have  laid  the  peo- 
ple of  some  of  the  islands  under  great  obligations,  of 
which  they  are  duly  sensible,  by  sending  them  out,  gra- 
tuitously, some  of  the  most  useful  medicines.  It  may  not  be 
necessary  for  a  missionary  in  a  civilized  nation,  where 
the  healing  art  is  cultivated,  or  going  to  a  country  where 
European  Colonies  are  settled,  or  commercial  establish- 
ments are  formed,  to  be  acquainted  with  the  practice  of 
physic.  It  is,  however,  important,  and  ought  to  be  borne 
in  mind  by  those  who  are  looking  forward  to  missionary 
work,  and  by  those  who  patronize  them,  that  it  would  be 
of  the  highest  advantage  for  one  going  to  an  uncivilized 
people,  to  be  acquainted  with  the  qualities  and  use  of 
12 


134  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

medicine.  A  degree  of  proficiency  that  would  qualify 
him  to  practice  in  his  native  country  is  not  necessary. 
But  so  much  knowledge  as  would  enable  him  to  be  ex- 
ceedingly serviceable  to  the  people,  to  win  their  confi- 
dence and  affection,  and  to  confer  on  him  an  influence 
the  most  important  and  advantageous,  in  accomplishing 
the  objects  of  his  mission  might  be  acquired  prior  to  his 
departure  from  England,  without  in  an  injurious  degree 
directing  his  attention  from  other  pursuits.  I  speak  from 
painful  experience  of  deficiency  in  the  means  for  meeting 
the  necessities  of  my  own  family,  as  well  as  those  of  the 
people  among  whom  I  have  resided.  I  know  they  still 
exist,  and  therefore  express  myself  more  strongly  than  I 
should  otherwise  feel  warranted  to  do." 

In  a  letter  from  Rev.  H.  Howard,  Baptist  missionary 
in  Rangoon,  Burmah,  is  the  following  appeal.  It  is  dated 
March,  21,  1835. 

"  Can  you  not,  under  God,  do  something  to  send  us 
some  physicians  ?  I  verily  believe  that  a  physician  of 
the  right  stamp  would  possess  double  the  advantage  to 
do  good  in  Burmah  Proper  to  that  of  any  other  man — 
and  that  this  sentiment  should  be  proclaimed  and  reitera- 
ted through  all  the  American  churches." 

In  order  to  show  the  suffering  of  the  natives  of  Bur- 
mah, and  their  desire  for  aid  at  the  hands  of  Europeans, 
the  following  instance,  among  a  great  many,  may  be  re- 
corded. It  is  from  the  pen  of  Mrs.  Vinton,  and  is  dated 
in  March  1835. 

"  When  we  first  came  here  it  was  very  sickly  ;  we 
sometimes  had  three  or  f;ur  new  cases  of  malignant  jun- 
gle fever  in  the  course  of  a  day.     It  seemed  entirely  use- 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES. 


135 


less  to  close  the  lid  of  the  medicine  chest,  and  what  was 
still  worse,  we  had  to  nurse  as  well  as  prescribe.  We 
frequently  were  applied  to  by  those  who  did  not  possess 
either  dish,  spoon,  or  knife,  to  help  themselves  with,  so 
that  we  had  to  send  what  few  dishes  we  had  with  medi- 
cine to  the  sick,  till  often  we  are  quite  destitute  ourselves. 
In  one  circumstance  where  1  was  administering  an  emet- 
ic, I  wished  to  give  the  patient  a  little  warm  water.  I 
looked  around  for  a  dish,  but  in  vain  ;  there  was  not  one 
to  be  seen  but  the  filthy  rice  pot.  At  length  they  got  a 
piece  of  cocoa-nut  shell,  and  she  drank  as  cheerfully  as 
though  it  had  been  silver.  As  the  Lord  condescended  to 
bless  the  medicine  given  to  the  recovery  of  the  sick,  it 
gave  the  natives  an  unbounded  confidence  in  us  as  physi- 
cians. Mr.  V.  was  even  sent  for  one  hot  day  to  go  and 
see  a  man  about  three  miles  distant,  who  had  been  con- 
fined to  his  bed  for  three  years.  The  cords  of  his  limbs 
were  so  shrunk  that  he  could  not  stand  on  them.  In  this 
case  we  had  not  so  much  faith  as  the  poor  sufferer.  As 
he  had  been  sending  to  us  from  time  to  time  for  medi- 
cine, we  could  not  find  it  in  our  hearts  to  say  nay  ;  and 
yet,  faithless  as  we  were,  the  man  is  now  by  the  blessing 
of  God  nearly  recovered.  Another  instance:  while  Mr. 
V.  was  absent,  intelligence  was  received  that  therewas  a 
man  at  some  distance  attacked  with  the  jungle  fever,  was 
delirious,  and  would  not  probably  live  but  a  few  hours. 
As  I  gave  permission  for  him  to  be  brought  to  the  zayat 
they  laughed  aloud  for  joy.  They,  therefore,  brought 
him  as  if  to  lay  him  at  my  feet.  I  looked  upon  him  ; 
reason  said,  his  case  was  hopeless ;  but  faith  said,  God 
would  raise  him  up  and  show  him  his  mercy.  The  third 
day  he  returned  home. 


136  THOUGHTS,  ETC. 

In  the  year  1831  it  was  concluded  by  the  American 
missionaries  at  Bombay  to  establish  a  new  station  in  the 
Deccan.  In  pursuance  of  this  design,  a  delegation  made 
a  journey  into  the  interior ;  and  found  on  all  hands  most 
eligible  and  inviting  places  of  labor.  During  a  journey  of 
four  hundred  miles  the  delegates  visited  about  fifty  popu- 
lous villages.  Ahmedmuggur  was  finally  selected  as  the 
seat  of  the  new  mission.  "  Junere,"  says  the  Rev.  Hollis 
Read,  "  was  regarded  as  a  desirable  location,  but  could 
not  be  occupied  for  the  want  of  a  physician.  It  is  nei- 
ther a  civil,  nor  a  military  station  of  the  Government,  and 
consequently  no  English  surgeon  is  stationed  there.  We 
cannot  occupy  such  towns,  till  we  can  have  missionary 
physicians ." 


CHAPTER  X. 

Facts  and  opinions  continued.— from  Borneo,— Algiers,— Journal  of 
the  Landers  in  the  interior  of  Africa— Persia,— Constantinople,— 
Syria. 

A  recent  number  of  the  Chinese  Repository,  from  which 
we  have  already  extensively  quoted,  has  in  it  an  able  ar- 
ticle, on  the  Island  of  Borneo,  its  condition,  prospects, 
and  so  forth. 

That  Island  it  will  be  remembered,  ranks  the  third  in 
size  among  the  islands  of  our  globe ;  New  Holland  and 
New  Guinea  only  being  larger.  All  who  have  traversed 
the  Indian  Seas,  have  looked  upon  its  geographical  posi- 
tion,— convenient  for  an  extensive  inter-tropical  com- 
merce,— with  great  interest.  With  a  soil  unparalleled  for 
fertility  ;  and  with  rivers  connecting  all  parts  of  its  inte- 
rior with  safe  and  commodious  harbors,  it  stands  unrival- 
led among  the  Eastern  countries.  Not  only  has  it  attract- 
ed the  notice  of  the  voyager  and  the  man  of  commerce  : 
but  the  moral  condition  of  its  inhabitants  has  called  forth 
the  ardent  sympathy  of  the  Christian.  But  in  the  way 
of  their  improvement  and  salvation  there  has  seemed  to 
be  impassable  barriers.  The  few  unsatisfactory  accounts 
that  have  reached  the  European,  have  led  to  the  belief 
that  a  state  of  extreme  savagism  characterize  the  people, 
rendering  it  hopeless  to  exercise  a  salutary  influence  over 
them.  The  island  has  long  been  known  as  the  great  de- 
pot of  the  pirates  that  at  times  scour  the  Eastern  seas;  a 
terror  to  the  unarmed  merchant-mariner.  In  the  seal** 
12* 


138  Thoughts  on  a 

of  estimation  generally  adopted,  the  Battas  of  Sumatra 
even,  have  no  doubt  been  considered  better  than  the 
Borneans.  And  herein  has  consisted  the  hopelessness  of 
the  case.  They  have  seemed  beyond  the  reach  of  mer- 
cy or  of  means.  The  able  writer  in  the  Repository  lights 
up  a  gleam  of  hope  concerning  them  ;  and  expresses  the 
opinion  that,  by  a  proper  course,  access,  ready  access, 
may  be  had  to  them.  It  is  worthy  of  notice  that  this 
writer  instinctively  turns  to  the  means  advocated  in  this 
volume  as  the  plan  best  adapted  to  the  case.  Mark  the 
following  : 

"  At  the  present  time  a  missionary,  who  should  go 
from  Singapore  under  the  protection  of  the  resident  of 
that  place,  would  be  safe  from  violence  in  Borneo  Proper. 
He  would  be  protected  by  the  sultan,  who  knows  it  is 
important  for  him  to  keep  on  good  terms  with  the  Eng- 
lish. But  the  missionary  should  not  rely  too  much  on 
governmental  protection.  His  trust  should  be  in  Him 
who  turneth  the  hearts  of  kings  and  others,  "  as  the  riv- 
ers of  water  are  turned,"  and  in  the  favor  which  his  be- 
nevolence and  beneficence  shall,  through  the  blessing  of 
that  protector,  secure  for  him  among  the  people.  A  mis- 
sionary to  the  Malays  of  Borneo  should  doubtless  first 
visit  Singapore.  He  could  there  make  himself  master  of 
the  language,  and  secure  the  friendship  of  the  Malays, 
who  go  thither  by  thousands  every  year.  He  can  while 
there,  exert  no  small  influence  in  favor  of  his  great  object 
in  Borneo.  He  can  also  learn  what  course  it  will  be  ne- 
cessary for  him  to  pursue  on  entering  his  field  of  labor,  to 
secure  his  safety,  and  accomplish  his  object.  When  he 
feels  himself  prepared  to  enter  the  field,  he  can  select 


NEW    ORDER    OF    MISSIONARIES.  139 

the  place  where  he  will  have  the  best  prospects  of  use- 
fulness. It  would  be  a  great  advantage,  and  one  which 
a  missionary  to  Borneo  probably  ought  to  possess,  to  be 
able  to  give  some  visible  proof  of  his  ability,  as  well  as 
inclination  to  do  the  natives  good,  by  healing  their  dis- 
eases, or  by  doing  something  else  for  their  present  good." 
"  Elephantiasis  and  blindness,"  says  the  distinguished 
Thomas  Campbell  in  writing  from  Algiers,  "  are  com- 
mon ;  and  disease  and  poverty  may  be  said  to  walk  the 
streets.  Until  the  French  arrived  there  was  scarcely  an 
European  surgeon  or  physician  in  the  regency,  except 
some  runaway  druggists,  apprentices  from  Christendom. 
There  are,  nevertheless,  Moors  and  Jews  who  pretend  to 
make  both  clinical  and  surgical  cures;  but  the  native 
doctors  know  not  a  tittle  of  anatomy,  and  scarcely  the 
names  of  their  own  medicines,  many  of  which  are  nox- 
ious in  the  cases  in  which  they  are  prescribed.  In  sur- 
gery they  understand  not  even  the  use  of  the  lancet. 
They  bleed  and  amputate  with  a  razor,  and  stop  hemorr- 
hages with  boiling  pitch.  Enormous  mortality  and  suf- 
fering necessarily  result  from  this  ignorance  of  the  heal- 
ing art.  For  one  hideous  malady  they  know  no  sort  of 
remedy.  The  blood  of  the  sufferer  runs  infected  in  his 
veins  all  his  life,  and  makes  his  children  also  his  victims. 
I  am  restrained  only  by  the  disagreeableness  of  the  sub- 
ject from  mentioning  other  instances  of  the  human  mise- 
ry resulting  from  the  ignorance  and  barbarism  of  this 
country ;  but  I  assure  you  I  have  seen  enough  to  con- 
vince me  that  the  retention  of  the  country  by  France  as 
a  point  d1  appui  for  the  entrance  of  European  civiliza- 
tion in  Africa  is  a  consummation  devoutly  to  be  wished." 


140  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  extract  relative  to  Africa, 
will  be  presented  the  following  touching  fragment  from 
the  Journal  of  the  Landers,  kept  during  their  expedition 
to  explore  the  Niger.  It  was  at  Boosa,  far  in  the  interior 
of  that  benighted  country,  that  the  incident  occurred. 
"  In  the  evening,"  say  they,  "  long  after  the  sun  had 
gone  down,  the  chief  brought  a  youth  for  us  to  pass  our 
opinion  upon,  whom  he  introduced  as  a  near  relative. 
He  has  been  ill  for  the  last  fourteen  months,  and  the 
chief  prayed  that  we  would  endeavour  to  cure  him  of  his 
complaint.  We  sincerely  regret  our  ignorance  of  the 
nature  of  his  disorder,  and  therefore  our  utter  inability  to 
do  him  the  slightest  benefit.  Nevertheless,  the  old  chief 
solicited  us  so  warmly  for  medicine,  and  with  such  press- 
ing importunity,  that,  rather  than  give  offence,  and  be- 
cause the  young  man  complained  of  a  sore  throat  and 
neck,  which  seemed  to  annoy  him  more  than  any  thing 
else  at  present,  we  chafed  those  parts  with  a  little  spirits 
of  hartshorn,  and  wrapped  around  them  several  folds  of 
warm  flannel.  It  was  all  we  could  do  to  relieve  his  pain, 
and  it  seemed  to  give  complete  satisfaction.  How  hap- 
py did  this  little  service  make  them  !  "  pp.  20,  21. 

What  an  opportunity  was  thus  presented  to  commend 
the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  to  that  dark-minded  people ; 
and  by  acts  of  kindness  like  the  one  just  noticed,  secure 
a  permanent  influence  over  them  ! 

With  regard  to  the  state  of  the  healing  art  in  Africa, 
the  Landers  observe:    "  Properly  speaking,  the  native 
have  no  active  medicine  of  their  own,  though  they  boast  an 
acquaintance  with  a  variety  of  medicinal  plants,  which, 
as  far  as  our  observation  extends,  are  wholly  inefficacious. 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  141 

They  likewise  ascribe  the  most  wonderful  healing  proper- 
ties to  a  quantity  of  roots  and  fibres  of  trees,  which  are 
sought  after  and  vended  by  a  number  of  idle,  lazy  fel- 
lows, who  pretend  to  be  Mohammedan  priests.  How- 
ever, from  our  experience,  these  do  neither  good  nor 
harm." 

Mrs.  Grant,  who,  with  her  husband,  are  missionaries 
to  Persia,  thus  writes  of  the  doctor's  medical  practice  in 
that  nation. 

"  My  dear  husband  is  daily,  almost  incessantly,  occu- 
pied in  attending  to  the  multitudes  of  sick,  lame,  and 
blind,  who  throng  our  house  and  yard,  and  earnestly  pre- 
sent their  cases  for  healing. 

M  I  have  been  forcibly  reminded  of  the  times  when  our 
blessed  Saviour  was  on  earth  and  '  went  about  doing 
good.'  The  sick,  of  every  description,  were  brought 
unto  him  from  every  quarter,  and  he  '  healed  them  all.' 

u  Husband's  prescriptions  have  been  blest  in  several 
obstinate  cases  of  long  standing,  and  he  has  twice  suc- 
cessfully performed  the  operation  of  cataract  on  the  eye, 
which,  you  know,  is  a  very  delicate  and  painful  one. 
After  prescribing  for  fifty  or  sixty  patients,  he  is  fre- 
quently obliged,  from  fatigue,  to  send  away  the  rest  until 
to-morrow.  Scores  are  thus  sent  away  for  want  of  time 
and  strength  to  attend  to  them.  It  is  very  interesting  and 
affecting  to  observe  their  simple,  yet  sincere  manifesta- 
tion of  gratitude  for  relief.  Not  satisfied  with  words, 
they  keep  the  doctor's  hands  full  ;  and  one  Mollah,  in 
the  excess  of  his  thanks,  kissed  the  hem  of  his  garment. 
He  has  been  told,  by  Mussulmen,  that  they  gave  thanks 
to  God  in  every  prayer  for  his  coming.     He  often  visits 


142  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

in  Musselmen  houses,  eats  at  their  tables,  and  receives 
every  mark  of  attention  and  kindness.  He  often  hears 
them  thank  God  that  he  will  not  refuse  medicine  to  a 
Musselman.  Amid  all  the  pressing  duties  of  his  profes- 
sion he  is  constrained  to  devote  an  hour  or  two,  each  day, 
to  the  instruction  of  Musselmen,  who  are  desirous  to  learn 
the  language." 

The  doctor  himself  thus  adds  : 

"  As  I  prescribe  in  such  quick  succession  for  so  many 
different  cases  1  find  it  difficult  to  keep  an  exact  account 
of  them  all.  To-day  I  marked  down  forty-five,  which 
may  be  about  the  average  number  of  my  office  patients. 
Besides  these  I  visit  more  or  less  in  their  houses  in  the 
city,  and  in  many  cases  ride  to  their  villages  to  see  those 
who  cannot  be  brought  to  me.  The  effort  of  mind  and 
body,  especially  of  the  vocal  organs,  necessary  to  ex- 
amine and  give  directions  as  to  the  medicine,  food,  cloth- 
ing, and  general  habits  of  so  many  different  and  often 
complicated  and  difficult  cases,  can  scarcely  be  conceived 
by  a  person  who  has  never  made  the  attempt  to  hold 
conversation  in  a  foreign  language  but  partially  acquired. 
What  I  shall  do  when  it  becomes  sickly  here  I  know  not, 
as  I  can  scarcely  persuade  one  to  call  on  their  own  physi- 
cians, and  it  seems  cruel  to  refuse  a  few  moments'  atten- 
tion and  a  half  a  penny  worth  of  medicine,  when  they 
may  be  instrumental  of  relieving  much  suffering,  and 
often  of  saving  life.  I  hope  we  shall  soon  have  the  assist- 
ance of  fellow-laborers,  which  we  so  much  need." 

The  author  has  just  received  a  letter  from  Dr.  Grant, 
dated  Oormiat,  Oct.  25,  1836,  as  follows  : 

"  You  know  I  have  long  been  anxious  to  see  special 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  143 

efforts  made  to  qualify  and  send  forth  pious  young  men 
who  may  go  about  healing  all  manner  of  diseases,  as  well 
as  preaching  the  gospel.  It  is  a  well  known  principle 
that  the  most  ready  access  to  the  heart  is  obtained  by 
relieving  the  sufferings  of  the  body.  And  no  one  ever 
availed  himself  more  of  this  principle  than  did  our  Sa- 
viour while  he  was  upon  the  earth.  When  I  was  in  Con- 
stantinople it  was  the  testimony,  both  of  the  missionaries 
and  native  converts,  that  one  physician  might  do  more 
immediate  good  than  three  clergymen.  I  think  this  opin- 
ion might  hold  good  in  Western  Asia  generally.  Certain 
it  is  that  a  physician  can  find  ready  access  where  no  one 
else — and  least  of  all,  a  minister  of  the  gospel — would 
be  admitted.  And  this  access  he  would  have  under  cir- 
cumstances where  the  heart  is  most  susceptible  of  serious 
impressions.  Could  you  have  seen  the  thousands  of 
wretched  subjects  for  whose  sufferings  I  have  been  per- 
mitted to  administer  relief — the  blind  seeing — the  lame 
walking — and  the  sick  raised  up  : — and  then  as  you  see 
the  once  disconsolate  heart  leaping  for  joy,  realize  that 
these  had  all  received  practical  illustrations  of  the  reli- 
gion of  Jesus,  I  am  sure  you  would  press  forward  in  your 
noble  enterprise  with  fresh  vigour  and  redoubled  zeal. 
Rest  not  satisfied,  my  brother,  whilst  there  is  a  heart  un- 
awakened  to  this  subject,  or  the  call  for  medical  men  un- 
heeded. They  must  go  forth  by  scores  and  hundreds 
into  every  dark  portion  of  the  earth,  administering  relief 
to  human  misery,  and  dispensing  the  precious  leaves  of 
the  tree  of  life." 

Extract  of  a  letter  from  Rev.  J.  L.  Merrick,  missionary 


144  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

to  Persia,  addressed  to  Rev.  W.  S.  Plumer  of  Virginia. 
It  is  dated  Constantinople,  Aug.  11,  1835. 

"  I  have  written  Mr.  Anderson,  of  the  American  Board, 
on  this  subject,  and  I  rely  on  you,  my  dear  brother,  to 
aid  him  in  procuring  a  suitable  missionary  for  that  place. 
It  is  very  desirable  that  whoever  you  send  should  possess 
a  knowledge  of  medicine,  as  this  would  at  once  give  him 
access  to  every  family  in  the  city,  and  enable  him  to  open 
wider  doors  of  usefulness  to  the  missionaries  now  at  that 
station.  Well-educated  and  pious  physicians  are  ex- 
tremely needed  in  all  these  countries  :  there  should  be 
one  at  every  station,  not  for  the  benefit  of  missionary 
families  alone,  but  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  preacher  of 
righteousness,  by  enlarging  the  circle  of  acquaintance, 
and  by  inculcating  truth  in  professional  calls.  While  the 
medical  profession  is  overflowing  in  America,  have  none 
of  the  hundreds  that  annually  graduate,  piety  and  de- 
votedness  enough  to  do  good  to  the  bodies  and  souls  of 
the  unevangelized  ?  I  believe  the  attention  of  medical 
men  has  never  been  turned  to  this  subject.  Will  you, 
my  brother,  tell  ihera  something  about  '  Luke  the  be- 
loved physician,'  who  was  Paul's  companion  in  travel 
and  labor  ?  The  Board  wish  to  send  me  a  medical  asso- 
ciate ;  and  if  you  recollect  the  long  and  weary  wander- 
ings assigned  me,  you,  too,  may  perhaps  think  it  impor- 
tant that  I  should  have  such  a  companion  ;  but  Mr.  An- 
derson writes  me  that  it  is  out  of  the  question,  at  least 
for  the  present,  because  no  physician  for  this  purpose 
can  be  found.  Don't  let  the  profession  sleep  over  the 
cause  of  missions  any  longer.  When  you  arouse  them, 
point  the  attention  of  some  to  the  Mohammedans." 


NEW   ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  145 

In  the  Journal  of  the  late  Dr.  Dodge,  American  Mis- 
sionary in  Syria,  we  find  the  following  ;  evincive  of  an 
ardent  desire  on  the  part  of  many  there,  to  procure  medi- 
cal aid  at  the  hands  of  skilful  physicians. 

"  April  1.  At  Bozra.  We  did  not  let  it  be  known  at 
Ezra  that  I  was  a  physician,  and  so  were  not  troubled  ; 
but  after  we  left,  a  man  came  after  us  from  Habub,  for 
medicines,  and  this  made  the  thing  known.  Last  even- 
ing, about  sunset,  a  man  arrived  from  Ezra  for  medi- 
cines ;  said  he  came  the  whole  distance  (25  miles)  at 
one  run  ;  and  that,  if  it  had  not  rained,  many  others  would 

have  come A  man  followed  us  from  Zoneida  for 

medicines.  ...  A  man  overtook  us  at  Bozra  for  medi- 
cines from  beyond  Zoneida. 

"  3.  We  were  followed  to  Edrei  by  two  men,  one  from 
Kareh,  and  one  from  Bozra,  for  medicines. " 

From  a  general  letter  of  the  missionaries  stationed  in 
Syria  and  the  Holy  Land. 

"But  it  is  not  merely,  nor  chiefly,  to  attend  to  the 
health  of  the  mission  families,  that  a  physician  should 
come  to  this  country.  At  each  of  our  stations  a  wide 
and  inviting  field  of  missionary  labor  is  open  before  him 
and  white  to  the  harvest.  He  can  enter  it  even  before 
learning  the  language.  With  the  assistance  of  an  inter- 
preter (and  interpreters  can  now  be  found  at  all  our  sta- 
tions) he  can  enter  immediately  upon  his  work.  He  can 
visit  persons  and  families,  to  which,  without  his  influence, 
his  fellow  missionaries  could  have  no  access.  He  be- 
comes at  once,  in  a  large  sense,  a  benefactor  to  the  com- 
munity ;  goes  about  doing  good  to  the  bodies  and  souls 
of  men  ;  and  in  a  thousand  ways  opens  the  door  of  use- 
13 


146  THOUGHTS,  ETC. 

fulness  to  his  associates.  Now  it  is  scarcely  necessary 
to  say  that  if  this  is  a  work  of  importance  at  any  of  our 
stations,  it  is  such  at  the  other  also.  And  really  were 
one  physician  now  to  join  our  mission,  it  might  become 
a  question  of  no  small  difficulty  to  determine  where  he 
should  be  stationed.  It  is  our  deliberate  opinion  that 
every  missionary  station  in  this  country,  with  which  you 
connect  a  physician,  will  gain  a  more  speedy  and  firm 
hold  of  the  public  confidence,  than  those  which  are  with- 
out one.  Would  it  not,  therefore,  be  good  economy  in 
every  respect,  if  a  much  larger  proportion  of  your  mis- 
sionaries were  physicians,  than  has  hitherto  been  the 
case 


;» 


It  were  easy  to  multiply  facts  and  opinions  favorable 
to  our  general  design.  Many  of  an  equally  interesting 
character  to  those  presented  in  the  last  three  chapters, 
remain  in  our  port-folio.  The  only  difficulty  has  been 
to  make  a  candid  selection. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

An  illustration  of  the  probable  working  of  our  plan.     Course  of  study 
recommended.     Some  objections  to  it  considered. 

The  facts  that  have  just  passed  under  our  notice  amply 
prove,  that  the  gratuitous  healing  of  the  sick  in  heathen 
communities,  arrests  public  attention  toward  the  indi- 
vidual exercising  the  healing  art ;  and  secures  for  him  a 
warm  welcome  to  persons  and  places  almost  inaccessible 
by  others.  It  calls  into  exercise  a  sense  of  gratitude  on 
the  part  of  the  persons  benefited,  and  on  that  of  their 
friends  and  neighbors.  In  truth,  we  have  seen  that  it 
awakens  the  kindest  feelings  toward  him  in  the  bosom  of 
all  to  whom  a  knowledge  of  the  benevolence  comes. 

Here,  it  should  be  remembered,  that,  the  evidence  ad- 
duced, is  not  confined  to  one  nation,  or  taken  from  one 
class  of  persons.  Neither  are  the  witnesses  medical 
men,  who  seek  to  magnify  in  the  public  estimation,  their 
office.  For  the  most  part,  they  are  ordained  missiona- 
ries. Some  of  them  are  unconnected  with  missionary 
societies  or  efforts  ; — men,  whose  object  in  writing,  was 
not  to  aid  in  evangelizing  the  nations. 

Another  feature  of  the  evidence  is,  that,  it  was  not 
given  in  answer  to  particular  inquiries  by  one  who  was 
endeavoring  to  draw  out, — by  cross  examination  and  im- 
plication,— arguments  of  the  nature  contemplated.  In 
other  words,  the  principal  part  of  the  testimony  was  cas- 
ually procured.  This  is  a  point  of  some  interest  ;  inas- 
much as  it  shows,  that,  without  pre-concert  or  interchange 


148  THOUGHTS  ON    A 

of  views,  a  general  sentiment  favorable  to  the  plan,  exists. 
Had  specific  inquiries  been  instituted,  it  would  not  have 
been  difficult  so  to  frame  a  series  of  questions,  as  should 
lead  to  the  expression  of  an  opinion,  equally  favorable  to 
the  general  merits  of  the  matter  under  discussion  ;  even 
if  that  opinion  were,  strictly  speaking,  far  less  favorable 
than  we  suppose  it  really  to  be.  This  does  not  imply 
any  want  of  candor  in  the  persons  who  might  answer  the 
interrogatories.  It  implies,  intentionally  so,  that  there  is 
often  an  unfair  coloring  given  to  a  subject  by  a  sort  of 
special  questioning  which  is  resorted  to.  And  hence  it 
is  that,  to  our  mind,  the  testimony  we  have  presented,  is 
peculiarly  valuable.  The  facts  were  recorded  from  time 
to  time  as  they  were  furnished  by  occasional  reading  and 
correspondence.  These  considerations,  added  to  the 
amount  of  the  evidence,  (coming  as  it  does  from  many 
persons  in  the  four  quarters  of  the  globe)  must  entitle  it 
to  the  most  respectful  and  candid  notice. 

Our  attention  may  now  be  turned  to  a  remark  which 
was  made  in  the  first  chapter  of  this  work  ;  namely,  that 
the  genera]  plan  now  under  consideration  will  find  a 
ready  response  in  the  bosom  of  many  of  the  youth  in  the 
church,  who,  but  for  it,  would  not  enter  the  missionary 
service.  It  is  believed  that  this  is  a  position,  not  only  tena- 
ble, but  fraught  with  great  importance.  Illustrative  of  it, 
and  of  the  practical  application  and  probable  working  of 
our  plan,  let  the  following  case  be  supposed. 

A  young  man, — twenty-five  years  of  age — of  sound 
sense  and  ardent  piety,  well  accustomed  to  Sabbath 
School  teaching,  and  other  benevolent  duties  pertaining 
to  laymen  ;  becomes  deeply  impressed  with  the  spiritual 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  149 

wants  of  the  heathen.  He  weeps  and  prays  in  secret  in 
their  behalf ;  and  is  willing  to  consecrate  himself,  a 
"  living  sacrifice,"  to  lead  the  meanest  among  them  to 
the  Lamb.  This  increases,  until  it  becomes  an  all-per- 
vading feeling.  As  yet,  he  has  not  assumed  the  respon- 
sibilities and  cares  of  the  marriage  life,  nor  those  of  es- 
tablished business.  He  weighs  well  the  blessings  of  the 
former,  and  of  the  latter.  An  affectionate  nature  pleads 
its  arguments  that  he  should,  at  no  distant  day,  gather 
around  him  an  attached  family  ;  and  the  pecuniary  in- 
ducements of  a  business  life  have  their  strong  claims. 
The  world  pleads  hard  ;  but  the  example  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  the  groans  of  the  perishing  heathen,  prevail  ; 
and  he  ingenuously  and  ardently  prefers  the  missionary 
service.  Faith  triumphs  over  sense  ;  and  the  scenes  of 
the  last  day,  as  they  shall  stand  connected  with  human 
pursuit,  seem  as  living  realities. 

Now,  a  variety  of  intensely  interesting  considerations 
rush  unbidden  into  his  mind.  "  Can  I  become  a  mis- 
sionary !"  he  exclaims  ;  "  and  bear  some  active  part  in 
that  blessed  work  ?"  The  suggestion  seems  but  the 
flight  of  fancy.  The  thought,  however,  lingers  in  his 
bosom,  and  he  ventures  to  look  at  it  with  seriousness. 
Difficulties  and  embarrassments,  real  and  imaginary,  now 
throng  his  way  ;  but  he  is  surprised  that  they  appal  him 
not.  This  gives  him  new  strength  ;  and  after  a  period 
of  faithful  prayer,  he  resolves  to  try  to  become  qualified 
for  evangelical  labor  among  the  heathen.  At  this  stage 
of  his  investigation,  he  will  naturally  take  into  account 
the  length  of  time  that,  under  existing  plans,  is  required, 
in  order  that  he  may  be  admitted  into  the  foreign  mission 
13* 


150  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

ranks.  His  preparatory,  collegiate,  and  theological  course 
will  necessarily  require  from  eight  to  ten  years.  To 
these  must  be  added  the  time  that  will  be  necessary  to 
acquire  the  language  of  the  people  to  whom  he  may  be 
sent.  He  thus  finds  that  he  will  have  passed  the  age  of 
thirty-five  before  he  can  really  commence  laboring  among 
the  heathen.  This  deeply  affects  his  mind,  and  unless 
possessed  of  an  unusual  degree  of  forecast  and  resolution 
he  hardly  dare  commence  the  undertaking.  This  embar- 
rassment is,  of  course,  proportionately  increased,  if  the 
person  be  of  an  age  more  advanced  than  the  case  sup- 
posed ;  and  of  this  class  there  are  a  great  number.  But, 
as  has  been  said,  he  resolves  to  make  the  effort. 

Although  a  digression,  it  is  well  to  observe,  that  there 
are  a  great  number  of  young  men  in  the  churches  who 
have  passed  through  very  much  the  train  of  feeling  and 
thought  that  has  been  suggested,  excepting  that  they  have 
finally  decided  to  remain  in  the  various  walks  of  secular 
life.  The  advice  of  older  Christians  has  tended  mate- 
rially to  this  decision  ;  which  has  been  given,  not  for  the 
want  of  confidence  in  the  natural  capabilities  and  moral 
qualifications  of  the  youth,  but  from  the  considerations 
we  have  noticed.  It  is  certain  that  there  is  scarcely  a 
church  in  our  land  in  which  one  or  more  instances  of  this 
description  cannot  be  found.  In  some  religious  commu- 
nities numerous  cases  are  well  known  ;  and  a  general 
feeling  obtains  of  sorrow  that  so  much  talent  and  piety 
should  not  find  a  wider  field  for  evangelical  effort. 

The  practical  application  to  such  individuals  of  the 
plan  under  notice,  may,  perhaps,  be  as  follows.  We  will 
resume  the  illustration  which  was  dropped  a  little  way 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  151 

above,  and  lay  out  for  the  young  man  a  course  of  study 
which  should  occupy  four  years,  provided  he  has  at  the 
commencement  a  good  common-school  education,  com- 
prising Grammar,  Geography,  Arithmetic,  etc.  This  we 
deem  indispensable,  and  if  any  of  these  elemental  details 
be  not  thoroughly  understood,  so  much  time  as  may  be 
necessary  to  acquire  them  should  be  devoted.  The  fol- 
lowing general  outline  of  each  year's  studies  seems  to  us 
to  comprise  sufficient  for  our  purpose.  Of  course,  radi- 
cal modifications  upon  this  course  of  study  may  be  made 
and  no  invasion  of  the  spirit  of  our  design  result. 

First  Year. 

Review  of  English  Education.  Algebra.  Elements  of 
Geometry.  Exercises  in  Composition.  Elements  of  Moral 
Science.  Natural  Theology.  Evidences  of  Christianity. 
Analysis  of  the  English  New  Testament,  one  lesson  each  day. 

Second  Year. 
General  and  Ecclesiastical  History.  Algebra.  Geometry 
of  Solids.  Trigonometry  began.  Logic.  Rhetoric.  Evi- 
dences of  Christianity  finished.  Natural  Theology  continued. 
Analysis  of  Old  and  New  Testament,  in  English,  one  lesson 
each  day.  Perhaps  some  modern  language,  as  the  Malayan 
or  Arabic. 

Third  Year. 
General  and  Ecclesiastical  History  concluded.  Connec- 
tion of  Old  and  New  Testament.  Astronomy.  Biblical  Criti- 
cism. Biblical  Antiquities.  Analysis  of  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ment, in  English,  continued.  Intellectual  Philosophy.  Moral 
Philosophy.  Malayan  or  Arabic  continued.  Exercise  in 
Composition. 


152  thoughts  on  a 

Fourth  Year. 
Modern  History.     Missionary  History.     Chemistry.     Pas- 
toral Theology.     Moral  Philosophy.     Analysis  of  Old  and 
New  Testament  finished.     Composition.     Malayan  or  Arabic 
concluded.     Review  of  the  whole  course. 

During  the  whole  term  of  study  frequent  attention 
should  be  paid  to  extemporaneous  speaking,  and  to  sacred 
music.  The  latter  branch  is  of  more  importance  than 
many  may  see  fit  to  allow.  Much  that  is  evil  is  now 
communicated  among  the  heathen  by  songs  and  simple 
ballads.  In  the  mild  climate  of  the  East  these  are  often 
made  the  medium  of  thought  and  sentiment.  The  soft 
and  grateful  evening  air  of  inter-tropical  regions  woos 
many  from  the  home-circle  £  and  beneath  the  over-arch- 
ing palm  they  congregate  to  listen  to  the  wild  melody  of 
their  children  of  song.  Taking  advantage  of  a  law  of 
our  nature  involved  in  this  connexion,  the  priest  of  false 
religions  puts  into  numbers  the  creed  he  would  promul- 
gate. On  the  same  principle  the  licentious  among  them 
kindle  the  passions  of  those  around.  Strange  ! — That  a 
principle  so  universal,  so  powerful,  so  obvious  as  the  one 
in  question,  should  have  been  so  neglected,  if  not  over- 
looked, by  Christians  in  their  efforts  to  spread  the  gospel 
among  the  heathen.  If,  in  the  plaintive,  though  martial 
sentiment  and  strains  of  the  Marseillois  Hymn,  there  be 
that  which  shall  wake  up  the  hidden  fires  of  enthusiasm 
in  the  bosom  of  the  patriotic  ;  and  if,  as  in  the  cause 
which  led  to  the  third  Crusade,  the  song  of  the  Trouba- 
dour could  accomplish  more  than  could  the  combined 
authority  of  kings  and  nobles  ;  and  if  passion  is  led  cap- 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  153 

tive  by  such  an  agency,  surely  there  is  that  in  the  religion 
of  Jesus  Christ  which  may  not  only  be  worthy  of,  but 
which  demands,  such  a  medium.  The  accurate  ob- 
server of  heathen  character,  can  readily  see  how  well 
adapted  is  this  instrumentality  to  catch  the  attention,  and 
enlist  the  sympathies  of  those  persons.  Let  no  cold  and 
severe  system-maker,  in  whom  the  humanities  are  with- 
ered and  dead,  sneer  at  the  thought  of  communicating 
sentiments  favorable  to  Christianity  througli  the  popular 
ballads  of  a  people.  In  fact,  to  borrow  a  trite  thought, 
let  the  evening  songs  of  the  heathen  tell  of  the  precious 
love  of  the  Victim  of  Calvary,  and  the  army  of  Brah- 
muns  and  priests  of  Boodh  may  be  quadrupled  without 
harm.  For  these  reasons,  it  seems  to  us,  there  should 
be  much  attention  paid  to  sacred  music  by  those  prepar- 
ing for  the  foreign  mission  service. 

By  comparing  the  foregoing  plan  of  study  with  that 
pursued  at  some  Colleges,  it  will  be  seen  that  it  com- 
prises all  that  is  found  in  theirs  of  practical  value,  except- 
ing the  dead  languages.  The  time  which  is  consumed 
in  the  study  of  the  latter  we  propose  should  be  occupied 
in  the  study  of  medicine  ;  under  the  direction  of  compe- 
tent instructors.  Jt  is  believed  that  the  theory  of  the 
medical  profession  may  be  acquired  in  one  half  of  the 
four  years,  and  that  the  remaining  moiety  would  be  am- 
ply sufficient  in  which  to  master  the  other  studies. 

After  finishing  the  four  years'  course,  the  student  should 
attend  upon  one  or  two  courses  of  medical  lectures  ; 
after  which,  it  may  be  fairly  presumed,  he  would  be 
qualified  for  usefulness  as  a  mission ary-teacher.  We  say 
teacher,  in  contra-distinction  from  the  more  comprehen- 


154  THOUGHTS  ON  i. 

sive  title  of  missionary.  The  class  of  men  in  our  mind, 
and  which  these  pages  essay  to  introduce  to  the  attention 
of  the  church,  require  an  education  of  a  less  liberal  kind, 
as  they  are  not  intended  for  the  work  of  translation,  and 
for  the  peculiar  duties  of  a  stationed  missionary.  It  will 
be  remembered  that  we  at  first  proposed  they  should  be 
generally  itinerant ;  and  in  the  language  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Anderson,  "  should  act  the  part  of  the  van-guard  of  an 
army." 

The  course  suggested  gives  to  the  student  the  elements 
of  such  knowledge  as  will  enable  him  to  reason  under- 
standing^ on  all  subjects  that  he  would  be  liable  to  meet 
in  discussion  ;  excepting  those  with  which  he  must  be- 
come familiar  while  among  the  heathen,  and  which,  from 
their  nature,  cannot  be  appreciated  until  he  meet  them 
in  actual  contact.  With  logic  ;  general  history  ;  politi- 
cal and  moral  science,  intellectual  and  natural  philosophy, 
and  the  like,  we  would  advocate  an  intricate  and  practical 
acquaintance  ;  and,  as  can  be  seen,  our  course  contem- 
plates much  theological  teaching.  In  truth,  the  latter 
branches  predominate.  Superadded  to  these  acquire- 
ments, the  student  at  the  close  of  his  education  possesses 
a  knowledge  of  medical  science,  in  exchange  for  the  dead 
languages.  The  vital  difference  between  the  plan  herein 
advocated  and  those  from  which  we  distinguish  it,  consists 
simply  in  this  exchange.  Save  for  the  specific  labor  of 
teaching  the  dead  languages  to  the  heathen,  and  for  that 
of  translation,  it  may  be  fairly  asked,  whether  the  young 
man  thus  educated  is  not  as  well  qualified,  for  his  pro- 
posed work,  other  things  being  equal,  as  one  differently 
and  more  liberally  educated  ? 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  155 

It  may  be  said  that,  not  having  passed  through  a 
course  of  study  of  the  dead  languages  he  may  lack  that 
thorough  mental  discipline  which  might  otherwise  have 
been  secured.  But,  it  may  be  tenaciously  urged  in  re- 
ply, that,  no  individual  can  honorably  pass  through  the 
course  marked  out  without  having  acquired  the  power  of 
thinking  with  clearness  and  intenseness.  There  is  in- 
volved in  it  high  mental  discipline,  and  he  upon  whom  it 
shall  not  produce  the  desired  end  in  this  respect,  had  bet- 
ter seek  other  occupations.  The  person  educated  as  we 
propose,  may  not  be  as  well  able  as  some  to  discover  any 
metaphysical  animalculae  that  may  happen  to  be  floating 
in  his  neighbor's  creed ;  but  for  all  that  will  constitute 
him  a  close  reasoner  on  all  practical  subjects,  we  think  he 
has  been  well  fitted.  Hair-splitting,  and  quibbling,  and 
verbal  wrestling,  we  had  better  leave  to  the  Lord  Mon- 
boddos  of  the  ecclesiastical  world.  Perhaps  it  is  perti- 
nent to  pursue  this  point  a  little  further. 

There  are  those  who  oppose  any  proposition  to  modify 
the  education  of  missionaries  so  that  the  dead  languages 
shall  be  left  out  of  the  course,  by  a  sort  of  instinctive  no- 
tion that  those  who  advocate  the  modification  do  not  ap- 
preciate the  value  of  a  "  learned"  ministry.  They  also 
associate,  it  may  be,  with  the  persons  thus  educated,  a 
fair  share  of  honesty,  common  sense,  and  perhaps,  a  great 
deal  of  piety.  But  notwithstanding  this,  they  have  a 
pretty  definite  belief,  sometimes  expressed  with  not  the 
greatest  delicacy  ;  that  they  are  a  blundering  sort  of 
teachers,  incapable  of  meeting  and  successfully  contending 
with  a  subtle  antagonist  in  the  field  of  argument.  They 
seem  to   take  it  for  granted  that  the  mind   which  cannot 


156  THOUGHTS    ON   A 

distinguish  between    aleph   and    alpha  has   no  weapons 
by  which  to  come  off  victorious  in  close   debate.     They 
do  not  remember,  it  may  be  feared,  that  the  fundamental 
elements  of  success,  at  such  times,  are  an  appeal  to  clear, 
acknowledged,  and  palpable  facts,  and  to  the  obvious  de- 
ductions therefrom  ;  and  not   in  the  ability  to  thread  out 
every  labyrinth  of  difficulty  which  the  opposer  may  pre- 
sent.    Far  better  is  it,  generally,  to   leave  the  nice  and 
metaphysical   cavils  that  an   ingenious   mind   may  urge, 
and  come  down  to  the  plain   regions  of  common  sense 
and  every  day  experience.     If  policy  do  not  indicate  this 
course,  humanity   does.      We  ought  to  remember  that 
there  are,  on  every  hand,  countless  myriads  of  ignorant, 
dying  sinners,  and  that  we  may  not,  innocently,  rob  them, 
to  split  hairs  with  a  captious,  criticizing  infidel.     Indeed, 
too  much  importance  is  attached  to  this  class  of  men,  and 
too  much  time  is  spent  with  them.     It  fosters  their  pride, 
and   tends  to  imbed  their  errors   more  firmly   in   their 
minds.      If  we  will  let  them  alone,  their  crudities  and 
phantasies  and  lies,  will  do  but  little  harm.     Almost  uni- 
versally, a  quibbler  is  without  permanent  influence  in  a 
community.     And,  it  may  be  further  affirmed,  that,  con- 
viction was  never  the   result  of  ingenious  reasoning  on 
subtle  points. 

It  is  a  great  blessing  to  the  heathen  if  there  is  now  car- 
ried to  them  the  blessed  Gospel,  unconnected  with  the 
metaphysical  trammelings'of  the  schools.  It  were  an  in- 
finite mercy,  we  may  almost  think,  that  in  the  arrange- 
ments of  Divine  Providence,  Christianity  has  been  kept 
from  the  knowledge  of  the  heathen  while  the  want  of  sim- 
plicity of  doctrine,  unity  of  belief,  and  union  of  heart,  have 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  157 

been  so  lamentably  obvious  among  its  professors.  Christ- 
endom has  been  the  theatre  of  sad  scenes  flowing  from 
these  causes ;  and  perhaps  the  work  of  evangelization 
may  yet  linger  until  a  more  complete  return  be  made  to 
the  simplicity  that  marked  the  infant  church.  It  might 
have  been  a  sad  misfortune  to  introduce  to  the  pagan  world 
our  systems,  and  creeds,  and  subtleties.  If  these  have 
wrought  such  melancholy  results  in  lands  where  intellect 
is  cultivated,  and  where  the  reasoning  powers  are  accus- 
tomed to  examine  conflicting  theories  and  detect  that 
which  is  false  and  accidental,  how  much  more  evil  would 
the  results  have  been,  in  lands  where  the  mind  has  had 
another  training !  Indeed,  'tis  this  thought  and  its  cognate 
dependencies  which  has  served  to  partially  satisfy  our 
own  mind  why  the  overruling  Hand  has  not  long  ere  this, 
led  numerous  bands  of  Christians  to  heathen  countries. 
We  have  wondered  why  God  has  not  by  persecution,  and 
the  sword  of  civil  power,  scattered  up  and  down  the 
earth  the  followers  of  the  Saviour.  When  his  eye  saw 
the  vast  domain  of  North  America  almost  unpeopled,  he 
took  the  course  just  noticed,  and  drove  the  Pilgrim  band 
out  to  found  an  empire.  The  little  company  that  beat 
their  weary  way  across  the  Atlantic  in  the  frail  Mayflower, 
would  far  rather  have  remained  at  home ;  and  their 
heavenly  father  might  have  hushed  to  the  silence  of  death 
the  voice  of  their  persecutors.  But  he  had  designs  of 
greater  moment  than  their  individual  welfare  in  his  deal- 
ings. And  so  he  drove  them  out.  So  might  he  have 
done  with  others  ;  and  by  such  means  have  planted  the 
religion  of  his  followers  in  all  countries  under  the  face  of 
heaven.  So  different  has  been  the  fact,  as  history  amply 
testifies,  that  it  almost  seems  as  if  an  invisible,  all-power- 
14 


158  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

ful  hand  has  been  holding  back  the  church.  The  sons 
of  commerce  have  visited  again  and  again  every  port  of 
trade  on  the  earth's  surface  ;  scientific  research  has 
known  no  barriers,  nor  want  of  men  to  prosecute  her 
wishes  ;  and  even  when  a  practically  unimportant  geo- 
graphical problem  was  unsolved,  the  sons  of  enterprise 
stood  ready  to  supply  the  oft-recurring  vacancies  which 
death  made  in  the  band  of  adventurers.  The  names  of 
Ledyard,  Park,  Denham,  Houghton,  and  others  are  proof 
of  this.  Death  had  no  terrors  when  such  an  object,  com- 
paratively insignificant  and  unworthy,  was  held  up.  But, 
during  all  this  time,  the  church  has  scarce  moved  beyond 
the  scenes  of  home  !  As  compared  with  the  importance 
of  the  work  left  in  her  charge  by  the  Saviour,  and  with 
the  wretchedness  of  the  human  family,  she  has  been  utter- 
ly asleep.  Why  is  this?  We  may  not  say  that  she  has 
had  within  her  ranks  no  men  of  genius,  and  enterprise, 
and  ardor.  Among  her  sons  have  been  multitudes  of 
the  bravest,  and  the  best,  and  the  most  pious  too.  Pe- 
cuniary resources,  entirely  commensurate  with  the  wants 
of  the  case,  have  almost  always  been  in  her  coffers.  In 
fine,  no  adequate  human  cause  can  be  assigned  for  the 
anomalous  fact  noticed.  May  not  the  theory  advanced 
have  a  practical  bearing  upon  it  ?  at  all  events  it  is  worthy 
of  consideration. 

But  to  return  from  our  unpremeditated  digression.  We 
were  speaking  of  the  mode  of  reasoning  which  it  might 
be  the  best  to  adopt  in  silencing  cavillers  among  the 
heathen.  It  may  be  laid  down  with  a  great  degree  of 
positiveness,  that  that  missionary  will  be  the  most  suc- 
cessful who  shall  clearly  and  manfully  state  the  grand 
and  more  obvious  proofs  of  his  religion ;  and  until  the 
quibbling  inquirer  shall  have  destroyed  these,  let  no  more 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  159 

arguments  be  thrown  away.  If  the  simple  evidences  of 
Christianity,  founded  as  they  are  upon  facts  and  inferences 
within  the  reach  of  almost  every  one,  have  no  effect ;  in 
vain  will  the  resort  be  made  to  the  more  recondite  and 
abstruse  arguments. 

Probably  the  great  leading  error  of  religious  teachers, 
ever  since  the  days  of  the  Apostles,  has  been,  that  they 
have  not  lived  in  a  world  of  reality,  if  it  may  be  so  ex- 
pressed. Facts  of  every-day  occurrence —  the  fire-side 
and  way-side  exhibitions  of  human  nature — man  as  he  is — 
have  been  too  much  sacrificed  to  learned  analyses  of  men- 
tal philosophy,  and  a  professional  dissection  of  the  spirit- 
ual man.  The  pride  of  learning,  the  love  of  the  schools, 
and  the  "itching  ears"  of  polite  hearers,  have  driven  too 
many  away  from  the  homely,  manly,  matter-of-fact  rea- 
soning and  preaching  of  the  Saviour  and  his  Apostles. 
No  marvel,  then,  that  the  leaven  might  spread  itself 
to  our  views  of  what  constitutes  efficient  missionary 
training. 

A  person  trained  under  the  plan  presented  in  these 
pages,  will  not  come  up  to  the  standard  we  wish,  unless 
he  shall  be  of  that  matter-of-fact  character.  We  further 
think  that  in  the  medical  profession,  both  in  its  theory  and 
practice,  there  is  a  far  richer  fund  of  resources  whence  to 
draw  arguments  ad  hominem,  in  proof  of  religion,  than 
he  possesses  who  is  thoroughly  conversant  with  the  Greek 
and  Roman  classics,  all  other  things  being  equal.  The 
beautiful  fabric  which  the  soul  inhabits  ;  with  the  wonder- 
ful mechanism  of  its  various  parts;  its  adaptation  to  ex- 
ternal nature,  and  the  adaptation  of  nature  and  her  pro- 
visions to  it ;  gives  him  one  class  of  unique  and  powerful 
arguments  to  enforce  the  goodness  and  wisdom  of  the 


160  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

Deity.     These  arguments,  be  it  remembered,  are  at  hand 
in  all  nations,  and  require  no  stretch  of  the  almost  palsied 
intellect  of  the  heathen,  to  appreciate.     They  may  show, 
far  better  than  any,  or  all  other  reasoning,  the  fact  of  the 
unity  of  God.     This  is   a   fundamental  truth,  entirely 
unknown,   and   almost  inappreciable   by  the  polytheistic 
nations.     In  no  department  of  creation  do  we  find  such 
proof  of  a  Designer   as  in  man's  physical  organization. 
And,  in  all   nations,  and  to  all  people,  the  appearance  of 
nice  and  beautiful  design  is  instinctively  referred  to  a  de- 
signer.    It   is  true  that  many  eminent  medical  men  pro- 
fess to  be  infidels,   (we  should  not  probably  do  right  to 
say  they  are  in  reality  such),  but  it  is  seldom  an  atheist  is 
found  among  them.     If  they  can  be  found,  the  infatua- 
tion of  pride,  or  some  singular  perversion  of  education 
will  in  most  cases  account  for  the  anomaly.     The  general 
principle  just  hinted  may  serve  to  show  why  we  attach 
so  much  importance  to  arguments  drawn  from  the  know- 
ledge which  a  well  educated  medical  man  possesses.     In 
addition  to  this,  the  medical  practice  will  show  him  poor 
human  nature  in  her  hours  of  weakness  and  sorrow,  of 
dismay  and  final  conflict  with  death  ;  and  he  must  be  an 
inapt  scholar  indeed,  who,  from  such  experience,  shall 
not  be  able  to  draw  peculiarly  appropriate  considerations 
to  impress  upon  his  hearers  the  importance  and  value  of 
true   religion.       The   most   impressive    and    convincing 
preacher  we  remember  ever  to  have  heard,  was  an  indi- 
vidual who  selected   illustrations  and  arguments  from  his 
experience  when  engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  healing  art. 
By  his  judicious  use  of  this  department  of  knowledge, 
he  caught  and  retained  the  profoundest   attention  of  all 
who  heard  him  whether  unlearned  or  learned. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

The  plan  of  Itineracy  continued.     The  question  of  marriage  noticed. 

It  was  mentioned  at  the  outset,  that  the  missionaries, 
contemplated  in  our  plan,  should  not  be  stationed  at  any 
given  points ;  but  that  they  should  be  generally  itinerant, 
and  left  to  the  providence  of  God  to  direct  to  their  fields 
of  labor. 

A  modified  system  of  itineracy — we  say  modified  in  con- 
tra-distinction  from  a  system  adopted  by  a  large  christian  de- 
nomination— is  now  acknowledged  by  some  as  necessary, 
perhaps  indispensable,  in  order  to  the  more  speedy  spread 
of  Christianity  in  pagan  nations.  This  is  a  subject  of 
growing  interest,  and  beyond  a  doubt  is  destined  to  as- 
sume a  paramount  importance  in  the  work  of  evangeliza- 
tion abroad.  Whatever  may  be  said  concerning  the  em- 
ployment of  itinerant  evangelists  in  countries  well  sup- 
plied with  a  faithful  stated  ministry,  no  objection,  to  say 
the  least,  can  be  urged  against  their  efforts  in  communi- 
ties where  the  name  of  Jesus  has  not  so  much  as  been 
heard.  Having  no  objectors  to  spend  time  with  on  this 
point,  we  may  at  once  notice  an  argument  or  two  in  favor 
of  the  course. 

In  the  first  place,  it  is  an  obvious  feature  of  the  mis- 
sionary plan  as  drawn  by  the  great  leader  of  missions. 
The  letter  of  the  commission  he  gave  commanded  the 
first  foreign  missionaries  to  go  from  place  to  place  as  cir- 
cumstances might  indicate.     Its  genius  was  to  present  to 

14* 


162  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

the  greatest  possible  number  of  persons,  an  outline  of  the 
great  and  good  news  they  had  received  in  charge.  They 
essayed  to  present  it  to  all,  and  to  surfeit  none,  if  we  may 
so  speak.  However  hardened  may  have  been  the  sin- 
ners of  that  age,  they  were  not,  as  is  familiarly  called, 
gospel-hardened.  The  apostles  and  their  contemporary 
fellow  laborers,  announced  in  clear,  distinct,  and  manly 
terms,  the  gospel  of  their  Lord.  When  once  sure  that 
they  were  understood  by  a  given  community,  they  passed 
on,  leaving  the  responsibility  where  it  most  righteously 
belonged,  to  wit,  with  those  who  had  ears  to  hear.  It 
seemed  as  if  their  time  was  too  precious  to  allow  them  to 
settle  quietly  down,  to  the  retired  duties  of  a  pastor, 
while  a  world  lay  in  ruins,  and  the  command  of  Olivet 
was  ringing  in  their  ears.  It  wras  a  considerable  time 
before  the  earlier  converts  enjoyed  the  labors  of  a  stated 
ministry,  and  when  in  the  process  of  time  this  feature 
was  recognized  as  a  part  of  ecclesiastical  organization, 
the  pastors  were  indebted  to  the  evangelists  for  having 
previously  gathered  the  little  flocks.  It  is  true,  that  some 
of  the  first  evangelists  labored  a  considerable  continuous 
period  at  particular  places  ;  but  this  was  the  result  of 
circumstances  that  transpired  from  time  to  time ;  and 
was,  in  a  certain  sense,  accidental.  The  facts  that  exist 
in  this  connexion  it  is  unnecessary  to  quote.  It  may 
suffice  to  say  that,  they  go  to  prove  beyond  a  question, 
that  the  missionary  operations  of  that  day  were  essentially 
itinerant.  This  established  proposition  would  alone  raise 
our  expectations  that  itineracy  would  come  to  be  an  im- 
portant means  in  future  missionary  operations.  The  sim- 
ple fact  that  it  was  indicated  by  the  Saviour,  even  if  no 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  163 

voice  were  now  heard  in  its  favor,  or  there  were  no  ob- 
vious philosophical  reasons  to  commend  it,  would  be 
sufficient  to  make  us  look  for  such  a  state  of  things.  We 
are  of  that  number  who  believe  that  great  wisdom,  and 
perfection  of  adaptedness  to  human  condition  and  char- 
acter, mark,  not  only  the  precepts,  but  the  plans  of  the 
Redeemer.  We  may  not  be  able  distinctly  to  perceive 
this  perfection  in  ail  its  minuteness  and  beauty  ;  but  if 
we  cannot,  the  source  whence  it  emanates,  firmly  fixes 
us  in  this  sentiment.  As  a  matter  of  strict  policy,  to  say 
nothing  of  a  higher  good,  it  is  by  far  the  safest  course  to 
practise  upon  the  golden  rule  of  doing  to  others  as  we 
would  they  should  do  to  us.  And  yet,  it  seems  at  times 
so  completely  to  trench  upon  what  our  prejudiced  judg- 
ment supposes  to  be  for  our  true  interest,  that  we  aban- 
don the  rule,  and  perhaps  flatter  ourselves  that  we  have 
found  a  better  way  ; — at  least  for  temporary  application. 
This  train  of  thought  is  not  digressive,  as  we  only  use  it 
for  the  sake  of  illustration.  It  is  not  important, — indeed 
it  is  at  times  impertinent,  if  not  impious,  that  we  demand  a 
full  understanding  on  our  part,  of  the  philosophy  of  a  scrip- 
tural direction,  before  we  yield  it  a  ready  assent  and  a  hearty 
obedience.  It  is  enough  that  it  be  clearly  indicated  on 
the  sacred  page  ;  and  if  it  conflict  with  preconceived 
opinions  we  may  conclude  that  in  some  way  we  have 
been  misled.  It  will  not  be  sufficient  excuse  to  pass 
slightly  by  a  divine  injunction  that  we  think  it  not  adapt- 
ed to  the  end  it  proposes.  This  view  in  nowise  invades 
the  province  of  human  reason,  that  glory  of  fallen  human- 
ity. It  only  is  intended  to  suggest,  that  if  Christ  has  in- 
dicated any  specific  plans,  wisdom  the  most  profound  has 


164  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

adapted  them  to  the  most  successful  results.  There  is 
much  involved  in  Christ's  simple  doctrines  and  designs, 
while  to  the  superficial  observer  they  seem  to  be  super- 
ficial. Shall  he  who  places  within  the  bosom  of  the  tiny- 
flower  that  scents  the  vale,  a  laboratory  of  perfume  which 
no  chymist  can  equal,  and  who  so  perfectly  adapts  the 
olfactory  sense  that  it  shall  convey  the  most  exquisite 
enjoyment  to  man,  adapt,  less  beautifully,  means  to  ends 
in  his  moral  world  ?  We  may  not  venture  such  a  senti- 
ment. And,  hence  we  judge,  that  the  plan  of  itineracy 
shall  yet  characterize  to  as  high  degree  successful  mis- 
sionary operations.  It  is  enough  to  know  that  it  was  an 
apostolic  custom.  The  nearer  we  approach  the  Millennial 
state,  the  greater  approximation  will  there  probably  be 
made  to  the  simple  system  of  belief  and  practice  laid 
down  by  the  Saviour.  System  after  system  may  come 
and  go,  and  each  be  invested  with  great  and  enticing 
beauty  ;  but  that  shall  stand  the  longest  and  severest  test, 
and  shall  be  the  most  useful,  which  shall  be  marked  with 
the  simplicity  of  the  Saviour's  designing. 

But  there  are,  in  the  second  place,  modern  facts  that 
show  that  the  system  under  notice  is  adapted  to  the  wants 
of  this  age.  "  The  general  plan  of  the  Ceylon  mission, 
says  the  Rev.  Mr.  Winslow  in  his  memoir  of  Mrs.  Har- 
riet Winslow,  "  has  been  approved  by  the  most  judicious 
observers  in  India,  acquainted  with  its  operations.  Per- 
haps one  feature  of  it  should  be  made  more  prominent — 
that  of  itineracy.  It  is  desirable  that  every  mission 
should  have  some  evangelists,  devoted  to  the  propagation 
of  the  gospel,  by  means  of  books  and  other  helps,  furnish- 
ed by  a  permanent  mission,  in  a  manner  more  extended 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  165 

and  diffusive  than  can  be  practised  by  those  who  are  en- 
gaged in  all  the  labors  of  a  station  and  are  pastors  of  na- 
tive churches. " 

The  Rev.  Hollis  Reed  writing  of  Ahmednuggur,  a 
missionary  station  in  the  Deccan,  thus  remarks  :  "  Of  the 
different  means  which  have  been  employed  at  this  station, 
the  direct  preaching  of  the  gospel  has  been  regarded  as 
by  far  the  most  important.  It  is  through  this  that  we 
must  look  for  the  salvation  of  the  Hindoos.  And,  sur- 
rounded as  we  are  there  by  a  numerous  population  in  the 
vicinity,  who  have  never  before  heard  of  the  gospel  of 
Jesus  Christ,  we  have  regarded  itineracies,  as  a  very 
prominent  department  of  our  labors."  ..."  There  are  two 
opinions,"  he  continues,  "  in  India  respecting  the  com- 
parative importance  of  itineracies.  The  majority  of  mis- 
sionaries are  of  the  opinion,  that  this  department  of  labor 
ought,  in  the  present  state  of  missionary  operations  in 
Western  India,  to  claim  the  missionary's  principal  atten- 
tion ;  while  others  advocate  the  plan  of  concentrating 
their  labors  on  a  few  points.  At  first  view  this  seems 
plausible.  But  when  we  look  at  the  character  of  the 
field,  we  see  that  the  concentration  of  labor  is  rather  ideal, 
than  real,  or  practicable." 

"  It  will  be  seen  from  this  statement,"  he  further  adds 
after  going  into  details  which  our  limits  reluctantly  forbid 
us  to  copy,  "  that  we  have  no  department  of  labor  which 
answers  to  that  which  a  parish  clergyman  enjoys  in  a 
christian  land.  We  have,  regularly,  no  voluntary  con- 
gregations on  whom  we  may  hope  to  deepen,  on  a  suc- 
ceeding occasion,  impressions  which  have  once  been  made. 
As  such  a  state  of  things  has  not  yet,  in  the  providence 


166  THOUGHTS    ON    A 

of  God,  been  brought  about ;  and  as  the  country  has,  by 
the  same  good  providence,  been  opened  for  extensive 
itineracies,  1  am  brought  to  the  conclusion  that  the  latter 
ought  to  constitute  the  burden  of  missionary  labor." 

Having  thus  noticed  the  views  entertained  by  the  Sa- 
viour and  Ills  immediate  successors  on  this  point,  and 
presented  the  opinions  of  Messrs.  Reed  and  Winslow,  we 
may  pass  to  another  topic. 

As  a  general  rule,  our  plan  would  recommend  that  its 
missionaries  be  unmarried  men ;  at  least  that  they  should 
remain  so  for  a  few  of  the  earlier  years  of  their  residence 
abroad.  There  are  many  weighty  reasons  that  might  be 
given  in  favor  of  this  position.  Perhaps,  however,  the 
subject  cannot  be  better  disposed  of  than  it  is  in  a  letter 
to  the  author  from  the  Rev.  C.  Gutzlaff.  "  Marriage  or 
celibacy,"  he  says,  "  ought  never  to  be  enjoined  or  stipu- 
lated ;  on  no  account,  nor  under  any  circumstances." 
This  is  an  exact  copy  of  his  remarks  on  this  point,  itali- 
cized as  in  his  letter. 

We  know  not  how  to  dispose  of  this  matter,  were  we 
called  to  do  so,  better  than  on  the  principle  suggested  by 
Mr.  Gutzlaff.  The  subject  is  one  of  a  private,  personal 
nature.  No  body  of  men  have  a  strict  right,  even  in  a 
prudential  point  of  view,  to  enjoin  the  one  or  the  other 
condition.  It  is  left  untouched  by  the  Saviour,  so  far  as 
it  relates  to  missionary  qualification.  And  this  is  all  we 
mean,  by  recommending  that  our  missionaries  generally 
be  unmarried.  Much  embarrassment  as  we  have  reason 
to  know,  has  occurred  in  consequence  of  enjoining  mar- 
riage upon  our  foreign  missionaries.  The  missionary 
himself  should  be  the  sole  judge.     It  is  a  duty  for  the 


NEW    ORDER    OF    MISSIONARIES.  167 

leaders  of  missionary  operations  to  advise  him,  and  pre- 
sent all  the  arguments  in  favor  of  and  against  his  mar- 
riage ;  but  there,  as  we  apprehend,  the  example  of  the 
Saviour,  and  the  dictates  of  propriety  indicate  the  suspen- 
sion of  their  agency.  This  topic  has  been  introduced, 
principally  to  show  that  we  desire  no  innovation  upon 
the  established  custom  of  the  first  missionary  band,  or 
one  which  does  not  accord  with  the  opinions  of  enlight- 
ened, practical  missionaries  of  the  present  day.  No  one 
will  deny  Mr.  Gutzlaff's  claim  to  be  heard  on  any  point 
in  this  connexion. 

We  are  aware  that  the  points  recommended  in  this 
chapter  imply  much  toil  and  self-denial.  In  fact,  the  ob- 
jection has  been  urged  against  our  whole  plan,  that  men 
cannot  be  found  who  will  be  willing  to  undertake  it,  on 
account  of  the  features  just  named.  We  do  not  heed 
the  argument.  We  have  confidence  that  there  are  those 
who  are  willing  to  undergo  and  forego  any  thing  for  the 
furtherance  of  the  gospel.  If  none  such  can  be  found, 
the  cause  of  evangelizing  the  nations  will  hang  in  suspense 
until  they  can  be  had. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Difficulty  in  procuring,  for  a  new  plan,  a  candid  examination.     Vari- 
ous incidental  advantages  of  our  design  suggested. 

Great  responsibility  attaches  to  religious  teachers,  and 
others  who  hold  empire  over  the  public  mind,  when  a 
suggestion  of  the  nature  contemplated  in  this  volume  is 
presented  to  them.  They  have  it  to  a  certain  extent  in 
their  power  to  secure  for  it  a  kind  and  candid  examina- 
tion, or  the  reverse.  At  the  present  day,  there  is  pecu- 
liar difficulty  in  this  particular.  The  public  mind  is  sen- 
sitive. Some  have  so  great  a  dread  of  innovation  upon 
their  stereotyped  modes  of  thinking  and  acting,  that  the 
most  trifling  modification  or  addition  thereto,  is  considered 
as  positively  heretical.  From  such,  no  improvement  need 
expect  favor  or  tolerance. 

Another  class — decided  friends  to  inquiry  and  judicious 
change — fear  to  favor  any  new  project,  lest,  in  the  ten- 
dency of  the  age  to  what  they  deem  ultraism,  it  should 
become  the  property  of  a  party,  and  an  undue  importance 
be  demanded  for  it.  That  there  is  reason  in  the  fear, 
cannot  be  denied.  It  is  our  national  characteristic,  to 
have  from  time  to  time  some  one  object  before  the  pub- 
lic mind,  which  its  advocates  claim  should  engross  all  its 
sympathies  and  efforts.  The  practical  effect  of  this,  is 
to  hold  in  neutrality  many  of  the  wisest  and  best.  It  is 
unnecessary  to  particularize  instances  illustrative  of  this 
point.     The  general  fact  is  familiar  to  the  least  observing. 

A  third  class  look  with  no  very  great  degree  of  favor 


THOUGHTS,  ETC.  169 

on  a  proposition  which  involves  any  departure  from  their 
preconceived  opinions,  until  they  know  whence  the  plan 
originates.  If  it  have  its  birth  in  an  opposite  party,  (for 
parties  there  are  in  the  church  !)  it  is  looked  upon  with 
somewhat  of  suspicion.  It  is  to  be  feared  that  the  num- 
ber is  fewer  than  is  supposed,  of  those  who  rise  above  all 
accidental  and  extrinsic  considerations,  and  before  they 
pass  judgment  on  any  new  subject,  give  it  a  fair  and  can- 
did examination.  Indeed,  it  is  a  timely  question,  which 
we  all  might  do  well  to  notice,  whether,  in  the  present 
state  of  public  opinion,  we  dare  pursue,  in  its  length  and 
breadth,  the  course  which  manliness  indicates.  This 
may  be  asked  on  all  hands,  as  well  of  the  most  ultra  in- 
novater,  as  of  the  most  bigoted  worshipper  of  ancient 
customs  and  set  forms.  Goaded  by  the  tendency  of  the 
age,  men  have  taken  sides  ;  and  a  barleycorn's  deviation 
from  the  maxims  of  the  leading  spirits  of  the  respective 
parties,  subjects  the  dissentient  to  the  suspicion  of  being 
unsound  at  the  core.  And  in  proportion  as  the  point  in 
discussion  is  metaphysical  and  impalpable,  is  its  impor- 
tance magnified.  It  is  in  vain  to  deny  that  in  some  cases 
this  has  assumed  the  nature  of  intolerance.  It  has  often 
been  considered  by  us  as  a  sort  of  Protestant  Inquisition- 
ism.  Its  Pontiffs  may  be  found  in  almost  every  com- 
munity. 

The  present  moment  is  rife  with  these  difficulties,  and 
he  who  adventures  any  new  mode  of  christian  effort, 
may  expect  to  meet  them. 

As  stated  in  the  commencement  of  the  chapter,  great 
responsibility  attaches  to  those  who  have   the   control  of 
the  public  mind  ;  and,  as  appears  to  us,  they  have  no 
15 


170  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

right  to  pass  judgment  on  any  plan,  until  it  has  received 
at  their  hands  a  candid,  deliberate,  and  prayerful  conside- 
ration. It  is  very  far  from  being  enough,  that  the  pro- 
posal is  not  in  accordance  with  their  previous  impres- 
sions ;  unless  those  impressions  are  the  result  of  careful 
and  deliberate  study.  And  it  is  all  important  that  a  care- 
ful discrimination  be  made,  lest  what  is  supposed  to  be  a 
well  founded,  well  examined  opinion,  should  only  prove 
a  sort  of  intellectual  heir-loom,  which  has  come  down 
with  the  personal  hereditaments  of  our  ancestors. 

Could  we  sweep  aside  the  curtain  which  shrouds  the 
forgotten  things  of  the  past,  we  should  see  many  of  the 
most  important  improvements  of  the  present  day,  to  have 
been  suggested  many  years  since,  and  unceremoniously 
laid  upon  the  shelf  by  the  influential  of  those  times.  This 
is  an  undoubted  fact  in  reference  to  inventions  in  the  nat- 
ural arts ;  and  a  similar  experience  may  be  safely  affirmed 
of  the  moral  and  intellectual  world.  In  the  port-folio  of 
the  writer  of  these  pages  there  is  now  lying,  a  document 
prepared  a  half  century  ago,  in  which  the  modern  plan  of 
manual  labor  institutions  is  proposed  ;  and  its  details, 
even  to  the  cost  of  a  spade,  accurately  laid  down.  Its 
author — one  of  the  noblest  of  the  departed — travelled 
many  a  weary  mile,  and  sought  by  all  means  within  his 
power,  to  find  those  who  would  cooperate  with  him,  in 
making  the  experiment  of  combining  manual  labor — as  a 
means  of  support — with  the  pursuit  of  knowledge.  But 
his  favorite  topic  was  summarily  disposed  of  as  soon  as 
he  presented  it  to  the  learned  and  the  influential.  It  was 
so  contrary  to  preconceived  notions,  that  it  was  consid- 
ered as  the  fancy  of  a  good  but  visionary  man.     A  half 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  171 

century  rolled  by,  and  the  projector  lived  to  see  his  fa- 
vorite plan  considered,  not  only  as  a  modern  invention, 
but  as  one  of  the  most  important  instrumentalities  of  good 
to  the  human  race.  He  has  descended  into  the  grave, 
and  his  name  is  unknown  in  connexion  with  the  subject, 
save  by  a  few  who  shared  in  his  fire-side  society.  Had 
common  courtesy  even  but  have  been  left  to  its  legitimate 
work,  it  is  probable  that  his  project  would  have  received 
a  fair  examination  ;  and  long  before  this,  those  institu- 
tions would  have  been  multiplied  through  the  length 
and  breadth  of  our  land,  affording  the  means  of  educa- 
tion to  those  who  have  lived  and  died  desiring  it. 

These  considerations  have  not  a  little  afflicted  the  wri- 
ter of  these  pages  during  their  preparation.  He  has  felt 
that  it  is  far  from  being  an  auspicious  time  for  suggesting 
any  new  form  of  christian  effort.  He  has  naturally  feared 
that  jealousy  and  suspicion  which  are  abroad  ;  as  well  as 
that  keenness  to  detect  inconsiderable  difficulties.  Feel- 
ing thus,  he  is  desirous  of  occupying  the  closing  chapter 
in  noticing  a  few  incidental  advantages  of  the  plan  pre- 
sented ;  if  by  any  means  he  may  gain  some. 

The  first  is,  that  the  course  of  education  contemplated, 
can  be  secured  with  a  less  expenditure  of  money  than  is 
required  for  the  preparation  of  those  who,  by  the  present 
standard,  are  considered  as  duly  qualified  for  the  foreign 
mission  service.  This  is  an  important  consideration,  if 
our  course  will  well  prepare  the  individual  for  that  service. 

Disguise  it  as  we  may,  there  is  an  instinctive  shrinking 
on  the  part  of  many,  from  receiving  an  education  at  the 
hands  of  public  bounty.  A  liberal  course,  as  that  is  now 
understood,  is  consequently  out  of  the   reach  of  the  ma 


172  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

jority — or  rather,  it  has  been,  until  very  recently.  It  is 
not  too  much  to  say,  that  there  are  hundreds  in  the  com- 
munity who  would  cheerfully  relinquish  secular  pursuits, 
and  offer  themselves  for  the  public  service  of  the  church — 
whether  at  home  or  abroad — if  the  means  of  procuring 
an  education,  independent  of  public  aid,  were  within  their 
reach.  There  is  abundant  proof  of  this,  in  the  fact  that 
all  manual  labor  institutions  are  crowded,  and  many  are 
annually  denied  admittance  for  the  want  of  accommoda- 
tions on  the  part  of  the  institutions.  Before  these  were 
established,  there  was  comparative  difficulty  in  finding 
persons  wilting  to  receive  a  gratuitous  education.  But 
no  sooner  were  the  opportunities  alluded  to  presented, 
than  crowds  of  youth  simultaneously  appeared,  rejoicing 
that  by  their  own  efforts  they  could  be  qualified  for  use- 
fulness. This  fact  is  a  notable  one.  The  accurate  ob- 
server has  carefully  treasured  it  in  his  mind  ;  and  in  all 
systems  of  education  presented  for  his  consideration,  it 
will  have  great  weight.  The  course  of  study  pursued  in 
manual  labor  institutions — excellent  as  it  is — is  not  at  all 
an  adequate  cause  for  such  a  rush  of  persons  to  embrace 
their  privileges.  Neither  can  it  be  accounted  for  from 
any  special  popularity  which  these  establishments  enjoy  ; 
for  as  yet,  they  are  hardly  acknowledged,  (in  some  quar- 
ters at  least,)  as  being  worthy  of  much  respect.  Indeed, 
there  is  no  way  of  accounting  for  the  fact,  but  from  the 
instinctive  aversion  to  which  we  have  alluded.  Those 
minds  of  the  most  noble  and  enterprising  order — and 
which,  above  all  others,  are  the  most  needed  in  the  mis- 
sion ranks — ever  feel  the  greatest  repugnance  to  being 
dependent  for  an  education  upon  any  but  themselves  or 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  173 

their  natural  friends.  Those  who  have  been  subjected 
to  this  ordeal,  consider  it  as  one  of  the  severest  trials  of 
their  lives.  This  feeling  is  far  from  being  blameworthy. 
It  honors  its  possessor  ;  and  gives  sure  evidence  of  a 
character,  in  this  respect  at  least,  worthy  of  confidence. 

The  difficulty  now  alluded  to,  our  plan  somewhat  re- 
lieves. At  all  events,  it  greatly  lessens  the  amount  of 
time  and  money  required. 

There  are  two  ways  by  which  the  kind  of  education 
we  propose,  may  with  the  most  convenience  be  afforded 
to  young  men  of  limited  pecuniary  means.  The  more 
desirable  would  be  to  establish  on  a  limited  scale,  an  in 
stitution  the  course  of  study  in  which  should  be  substan- 
tially that  suggested  in  the  eleventh  chapter  of  this  work. 
This  would  be  a  simple  matter,  for  it  would  require,  as 
compared  with  other  institutions,  only  the  exchange  of 
the  professor  of  the  Classics  for  a  medical  professor. 
One  competent  person  might  instruct  the  pupils  in  medi- 
cal science  ;  and  during  the  four  years'  course  might  am- 
ply qualify  them  for  practice  ;  with  the  exception,  per- 
haps, of  the  instruction  they  would  receive  while  at  end- 
ing the  two  courses  of  lectures,  which  we  have  formerly 
stated  they  should  attend,  in  addition.  There  are  some 
branches  of  the  medical  profession  with  which  missiona- 
ries on  our  plan  need  not  be  so  particularly  conversant, 
as,  for  example,  Medical  Jurisprudence.  This  may  not 
occupy  so  prominent  a  place  in  our  course,  as  would  be 
desirable  if  those  educated  by  it  contemplated  the  prac- 
tice of  their  profession  in  civilized  nations. 

Another    mode   by  which    the    same    object    may  be 
attained  is  this.     In  almost  all  populous  places,  there  are 
15* 


174  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

both  medical  men,  and  teachers  of  private  academies, 
who  feel  a  deep  interest  in  behalf  of  the  heathen.  A 
youth  might  generally  avail  himself  of  their  services  while 
preparing  for  missionary  labor.  The  teacher  would  cheer- 
fully allow  him  to  pass  a  portion  of  his  time  in  his  school- 
room ;  and  as  cheerfully  would  direct  him  in  the  various 
studies  within  his  province.  The  physician  would  also 
extend  to  him  the  benefit  of  his  library,  and  his  instruc- 
tion during  a  portion  of  each  day  throughout  the  course. 
All  this  might  be  done  without  trenching  at  all  upon  the 
time  or  convenience  of  either  of  the  parties.  Indeed, 
there  is  no  medical  man,  nor  teacher,  whose  heart  is  alive 
to  the  woes  of  the  heathen,  but  would  be  joyful  in  the 
opportunity  of  personally  aiding  in  educating  a  missionary. 

If  this  outline  be  in  accordance  with  fact  and  reason, 
we  thus  have  the  means  provided  for  the  education  of 
many. 

The  difficulty  now  meets  us  with  regard  to  the  means 
of  support  during  the  time  of  pursuing  the  last  supposed 
way.  The  winter  months  may  be  profitably  occupied  in 
teaching  school,  as  is  the  course  pursued  by  many  stu- 
dents in  all  literary  institutions.  For  the  means  still  fur- 
ther necessary,  recourse  must  be  had  to  natural  friends, 
and  to  such  other  occupations  as  may  accord  with  the 
abilities  of  the  individual,  or  the  circumstances  which 
Providence  may  throw  around  him.  It  is  impossible  and 
unnecessary  to  particularize  on  this  point.  It  may  not 
be  out  of  place  to  hint,  however,  that  christian  families 
might,  with  great  propriety,  offer  to  such  youth  a  place 
in  their  domestic  circle  during  their  preparatory  course. 
Many  might  share  in  this,  and  thus  prevent  its  being  one- 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  175 

rous  to  any  given  family.     Such  an  opportunity  should 
be  esteemed  a  privilege  by  any  household. 

It  may  be  urged  that  the  last  suggested  course  is  es- 
sentially a  dependent  one.  We  admit  it  to  be  so,  strictly 
considered.  But  it  materially  differs  from  the  more  ob- 
jectionable mode  of  receiving  an  education  from  a  public 
society.  On  the  plan  we  submit,  the  recipient  of  favors 
knows  from  whom  they  have  been  received  ;  and  if  he 
never  have  pecuniary  means  to  cancel  them,  he  can,  in 
some  degree,  repay  the  debt  by  a  sincere  and  ardent 
friendship.  This  will  essentially  mitigate  the  keenness  of 
that  feeling  which  the  man  of  refinement  and  delicacy 
must  possess  in  the  other  case. 

A  second  incidental  advantage  of  the  general  plan  set 
forth  in  these  pages  is  this, — that  a  person  thus  educated 
may  generally,  at  little  or  no  expense,  procure  a  passage 
to  any  port  in  the  Indian  and  Pacific  Oceans. 

Much  inconvenience,  anxiety,  and  suffering  are  often 
experienced  on  long  voyages,  for  the  want  of  a  medical 
man  on  board  ship.  The  entire  complement  of  persons 
in  a  vessel  engaged  in  the  East  India  trade,  may  be  set 
down  as  averaging  from  twenty  to  twenty-five.  This  is 
exclusive  of  passengers,  the  number  of  whom  of  course 
cannot  be  estimated.  The  crew  is  generally  shipped  with 
no  great  attention  to  their  corporeal  condition.  If  they 
appear  to  be  in  good  health,  no  more  is  considered.  In 
many  instances  they  come  on  board  at  the  moment  of 
sailing,  but  poorly  supplied  with  clothing  ;  and  not  a  few 
of  them  in  a  state  of  great  bodily  exhaustion  and  derange- 
ment, consequent  upon  a  career  of  dissipation  while  on 
shore.     It  need  not  be  said   that  such  are  very  liable  to 


176  THOUGHTS  ON  A 

disease.     In  some  instances  which  have  come  under  our 
observation,  great  inconvenience   and   hindrance  to  the 
prosecution  of  the  voyage,  have  occurred  in  consequence 
of  general  sickness  among  the  crew  ;  which   probably 
would   have  speedily  yielded  to  the  practice  of  a  skilful 
physician.     Accidents  occasionally  occur  by  which  limbs 
are  fractured,  disabling  the  sufferer  for  life  perhaps,  when 
a  perfect  cure  might  have  followed  timely  surgical  aid. 
If  the  crew  pass  the  outward  passage  in  health,  increased 
dangers  meet  them  in  foreign  ports  ;  particularly  in  those 
within  the  tropics.     Tempted  by  their  previous   limited 
fare,  and  by  the  cheapness  of  tropical  fruits,  a  too  great 
indulgence    in   them    almost    invariably  happens.     This, 
added  to  the  various  local  causes  of  sickness  which  may 
exist  around,  often   brings   fatal  sickness   among  a  crew, 
which  makes  the  constant  presence  of  a  physician  greatly 
to  be  desired.     That  this  general  statement  is  not  a  fan- 
cied one,  may  be  shown  from  the  well  investigated  calcu- 
lation, that  a  generation  of  seamen  pass  away  every  fifteen 
years  !     Where  do  they  die  ?     Many  of  them,  it  is  true, 
are  swept  to  eternity  by  the   battle   and  the   storm  ;  but 
as  many  linger   out  the   remnant  of  their   days  on  ship- 
board ;  the  victims  of  the  want  of  timely  medical  assist- 
ance.    The  humane  among  ship-masters  and  ship-owners, 
have  long  perceived  the   bearing  of  the  difficulty  under 
notice  ;  but  have  seen  no  way  of  reaching  it,  within  the 
limits  of  what  is  deemed  a  necessary  economy.     During 
our  seafaring  life,  we  have  had  occasion  to  sail  in  eight 
or  ten   merchant  ships,  in  all  of  which  the  presence  of  a 
medical  man   was  greatly  desired.     In  neither  of  these 
instances  would  a  physician   have  been  refused  a  gratui- 


NEW    ORDER,    OF    MISSIONARIES.  177 

tous  passage  lo  the  place  of  the  ship's  destination. 
Not  much  is  hazarded  by  saying,  that  few  owners  of  mer- 
chant vessels  sailing  upon  long  voyages,  but  would  cheer- 
fully furnish  a  passage  to  medical  men,  in  consideration 
of  professional  services  to  the  crew.  Indeed  it  would  be 
an  object  to  pay  wages  to  such  pesons,  for  passengers 
would  always  select  a  vessel  which  afforded  this  additional 
provision  for  their  health  and  comfort.  It  is  our  opinion, 
from  sufficient  means  of  information,  that  missionaries 
qualified  according  to  our  plan,  would  readily  find  oppor- 
tunities for  reaching,  gratuitously,  the  shores  of  heathen- 
ism. It  ought  to  be  remarked  that  we  suppose  the  medi- 
cal man  shall  remain  with  the  ship  during  her  stay  in  the 
foreign  port,  and  be  ready  to  administer  to  the  wants  of 
the  crew  up  to  the  moment  of  their  departure  for  home. 
This  would  increase  the  recompense  for  the  favor  he  has 
received. 

The  same  general  principle  would  especially  apply,  if 
the  missionary  should  wish  to  pass  from  port  to  port  while 
pursuing  his  labors  abroad.  Those  ships  which  are  em- 
ployed in  the  commerce  of  inter-tropical  ports,  always 
carry  much  larger  crews  than  do  American  and  European 
merchant  vessels.  From  the  nature  of  the  trade,  and 
from  a  less  strict  attention  to  cleanliness  on  board,  sick- 
ness is  much  more  common  among  their  men.  We  have 
often  been  painfully  surprised  in  observing  the  difference 
alluded  to.  Hence  the  presence  of  a  physician  is  especially 
desirable  by  them,  and  the  means  would  thus  be  afforded 
to  our  missionaries  of  a  ready  transit  from  place  to  place. 
Another  incidental  advantage  which  experiment  may 
prove  as  belonging  to  our  plan,  is,  that  in  many  of  the 


178  THOUGHTS    ON    A 

populous  towns  of  the  East  a  medical  man  may,  if  he  wish, 
support  himself  by  devoting  a  small  portion  of  his  time  to 
practice  among  the  more  wealthy  natives,  and  Europeans 
resident  abroad.  By  this,  it  is  not  meant  that  he  should 
indiscriminately  and  publicly  offer  his  services  for  pecuni- 
ary consideration.  This  would  obviously  tend  to  neutra- 
lize the  leading  excellence  of  our  general  design  ;  and 
might  have  a  bad  effect  upon  the  missionary.  It  is  only 
suggested  that  he  might  become  the  stated  physician  to  a 
few  families,  limiting  the  number  to  his  actual  necessary 
requirements.  To  do  this — if  he  were  unmarried  and  in 
the  exercise  of  a  Swartz-like  economy — would  be  a  mat- 
ter of  but  little  difficulty,  and  would  encroach  but  imma- 
terially upon  his  missionary  labors.  In  some  parts  of 
India  there  are  European  merchants,  who  would  cheer- 
fully give  board  and  clothing  to  such  a  person,  in  consid- 
eration of  his  occasional  medical  services.  Were  it  prop- 
er to  do  so,  the  names  of  many  might  be  here  given  who 
would  esteem  it  a  privilege. 

In  fact,  the  expense  of  living,  in  some  parts  of  the 
East,  for  a  single  man,  is  much  less  than  is  generally  sup- 
posed. In  a  recent  letter  to  the  author  from  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Gutzlaff,  that  missionary  says  :  "  When  I  was  in 
Siam,  I  spent  about  ten  dollars  per  month."  This  in- 
cluded his  expenses  for  food,  and  lodging  ;  and  from  the 
tenor  of  his  letter,  it  is  presumed  for  clothing  also.  It 
was  about  this  sum  which  sufficed  for  the  entire  support 
of  Swartz,  during  a  considerable  portion  of  his  missionary 
life.  And  multitudes  of  natives  in  many  Oriental  coun- 
tries, consider  themselves  rich  with  less  than  this  income. 
One  of  the  most  striking  facts  which  there  arrests  the 


NEW  ORDER  OF  MISSIONARIES.  179 

traveller's  attention  is,  the  great  amount  of  temporal 
comforts  and  conveniences  which  a  little  money  will  pro- 
cure to  the  natives.  It  is  true  that  the  style  of  living 
which  results  from  the  economy  they  practise,  might  not 
be  congenial  to  the  taste  of  a  missionary  ;  but  to  us  it 
appears  certain,  that  in  process  of  time,  their  economical 
mode  of  life  will  come  to  be  adopted  by  some  of  the 
messengers  of  salvation,  not  only  from  prudential  consid- 
erations, but  the  better  to  secure  the  sympathies  of  the 
people.  Tt  was  the  latter  motive  which  constrained 
Swartz  to  pursue  his  plan  of  living.  He  felt  it  to  be 
desirable  that  he  should  become  one  with  those  among 
whom  he  had  come  to  labor.  And  one  of  the  readiest 
means  by  which  he  could  convince  them  of  this  willing- 
ness was  to  adopt  their  humble  garb,  and  their  cheap 
fare. 

That  medical  missionaries  may  procure  the  means  of 
subsistence  by  occasional  practice  among  the  wealthy,  we 
think  is  certain.  The  opinion  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Winslow, 
missionary  in  Ceylon,  on  this  point,  was  given  in  another 
place,  but  it  may  be  well  to  present  it  again.  In  answer 
to  an  interrogation  whether  a  support  could  be  thus  ob- 
tained, he  says  :  "  In  larger  towns  on  the  Continent  (of 
India)  it  might  be  done.  At  Calcutta,  Madras,  and 
probably  Bombay,  a  respectable  physician  could,  I  sup- 
pose, get  practice  without  difficulty,  to  occupy  as  much 
of  his  time  as  he  should  see  fit  to  devote  to  it ;  the  same 
would  probably  be  the  case  at  other  large^places." 

The  opinion  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Medhurst,  English  mis- 
sionary in  Batavia,  is  as  follows  :  "  Could  your  young 
physicians,  on  coming  abroad,  be  assured  of  a  comfortable 


180 

and  decent  support  by  their  friends  at  home,  it  would  be 
much  better  ;  but  in  case  the  zeal  to  relieve  physical 
evils  is  not  so  active  and  energetic  as  that  to  relieve  mor- 
al woes — why  then  such  young  men  could  find  a  tolera- 
ble support  by  occasional  practice  here ;  while  they  de- 
voted their  leisure  hours  to  gratuitous  practice  among  the 
natives." 

It  is  unnecessary  to  multiply  opinions  on  this  point.  If 
experience  should  show  that  the  position  assumed  is  cor- 
rect, it  is  obvious  that  a  corps  of  medical  missionaries  may 
not  only  find  gratuitous  conveyance  to  their  fields  of  .la- 
bor, but  may  pursue  their  benevolent  designs  abroad, 
without  much  aid  from  the  treasury  of  the  church  at 
home. 

If  our  plan  promise  to  be*  thus  economical  of  pecuniary 
means  is  it  not  worthy  earnest  attention  ?  In  this  day  of 
commercial  embarrassment  the  church  may  learn  an  im- 
portant lesson.  These  revulsions  in  the  world  of  com- 
merce are  periodical.  They  will  surely  occur  again. 
While  we  may  welcome  to  the  treasury  of  our  societies  the 
free  gifts  of  the  wealthy,  the  voice  of  wisdom  bids  us 
place  but  little  confidence  in  them.  The  same  voice  bids 
us  model  all  our  plans  with  strict  and  unincumbered 
simplicity. 


END. 


Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Libraries 


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